Is it right to use 'about' after the verb explain?

Question

1. He explains about the experiment...

2. He explains the experiment....

Answer 1

It is not gramatically correct.

Answer 2

Yes, you can use about, but it seems a little redundant.  If he's explaining the experiment, you already know that it's about the experiment.  What else?  

Answer 3

Not really.  "About" is a preposition.  Prepositions connect two nouns.

The first sentence assumes you understand what the noun actually is.  For example, it might mean:

"He explains (the details) about the experiment."  This connects the two nouns : details and experiment.

The first one is poor grammar, but used sometimes.  Your best bet is your second sentence.

Matt

Answer 4

He explains what the experiment is about.

"He explains the experiment" doesn't entirely make sense:

He explains the experiment's (purpose,methodology, findings).

Answer 5

yes, either one sounds right....aaaaahhh the freedom of the English language

Answer 6

It depends.  If you say "He explains about the experiment", that would be he gives you a general idea of what the experiment is and what he wants it to do.  If you say "He explains the experiment", the explanation would be geared more toward exactly how the experiment works and what will or will not take place.

Answer 7

2 is correct.