Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'look after' to describe being responsible for the well-being of people, animals, or objects over a period of time.
- Always keep 'look' and 'after' together; never put the object in between them (e.g., 'look after him').
- Conjugate the verb 'look' normally for tense (looked, looking, looks) while 'after' remains unchanged.
- Use it for both temporary tasks (babysitting) and permanent responsibilities (owning a house).
Overview
phrasal verbs(구동사)라는 큰 벽을 만나게 됩니다. 동사와 전치사가 결합하여 전혀 새로운 의미를 만들어내는 이 구조는 한국어에는 없는 독특한 방식이라 많은 학습자가 어려움을 겪곤 하죠. 특히 오늘 다룰 look after는 일상생활에서 '돌보다', '책임지다'라는 의미로 매우 자주 쓰이는 표현입니다.look after는 단순히 관찰하는 행위(look)를 넘어 그 대상의 안녕과 상태를 책임진다는 능동적인 의미를 내포하고 있습니다.look이라는 기본 동사에 after라는 전치사를 결합해 의미를 완전히 바꿉니다.look과 after가 한 몸처럼 움직여야 하는 '구동사'라는 점이 가장 큰 차이입니다. B1 레벨에서는 단순히 단어의 뜻만 외우는 것이 아니라, 이 구동사가 문장에서 어떻게 배치되는지, 그리고 한국어의 '보살피다'와 어떤 미묘한 차이가 있는지 이해하는 것이 매우 중요합니다. 이 가이드를 통해 여러분이 카페에서 친구의 가방을 잠시 봐달라고 부탁하거나, 회사에서 프로젝트를 관리할 때 훨씬 자연스러운 영어를 구사할 수 있도록 돕겠습니다.look after는 inseparable phrasal verb(분리 불가능한 구동사)입니다. 이는 look과 after를 떼어놓을 수 없다는 뜻입니다. 한국어에서는 '아이를 잘 돌봐주세요'라고 할 때 '아이를'이라는 목적어가 동사 앞에 위치하지만, 영어에서는 look after라는 덩어리 뒤에 목적어가 와야 합니다. 한국어의 '돌보다'라는 단어는 타동사로서 목적어를 취하는 구조와 유사하지만, 영어는 전치사 after가 결합하여 타동사 역할을 수행한다는 점이 핵심입니다.after는 보통 '시간적/공간적 뒤'를 의미하지만, 여기서 look과 결합하면 '대상에 대해 지속적인 관심을 갖다'라는 은유적 의미로 확장됩니다. 즉, 단순히 쳐다보는(look at) 것이 아니라, 그 대상의 뒤를 따라다니며 필요한 것을 채워준다는 느낌입니다. 한국어의 '보살피다'가 '보(보다) + 살피다'의 합성어인 것처럼, 영어의 look after도 두 단어가 합쳐져 새로운 의미 단위를 형성하는 것이죠. 한국어의 '주어 + 목적어 + 서술어' 구조와 비교하면 다음과 같습니다.look after 뒤에 위치 |look과 after 사이에 다른 단어를 끼워 넣으면 문법적으로 틀린 문장이 됩니다. 이는 한국어의 조사(-을/를)가 목적어를 명확히 해주는 것과 달리, 영어는 '위치'가 그 역할을 대신하기 때문입니다.look after의 형태는 매우 규칙적입니다. look 부분만 주어의 인칭과 시제에 맞춰 변화하고, after는 항상 그대로 유지됩니다. 한국어의 동사 활용이 어미 변화(-았다/었다, -는구나, -겠다)로 이루어지는 것과 달리, 영어는 동사 원형의 변화와 조동사의 활용을 통해 시제를 표현합니다.look에 s, ed, ing가 붙을 뿐 after는 변하지 않습니다. 한국어 학습자들이 가장 많이 하는 실수가 look과 after 사이에 목적어를 넣는 것인데, 이 표를 통해 look after가 하나의 세트임을 명심하세요.look after는 상대방의 안녕, 안전, 혹은 물건의 상태를 책임질 때 사용합니다. 한국어의 '돌보다'와 거의 1:1로 대응되지만, 상황에 따라 더 넓은 의미로 쓰입니다.- 1사람이나 동물을 보살필 때: 가장 전형적인 용법입니다. 아이를 봐주거나, 반려동물을 맡아줄 때 씁니다. 예:
Can you look after my puppy while I'm away?(여행 동안 우리 강아지 좀 봐줄 수 있어?) - 2건강이나 상태를 챙길 때: 나 자신이나 타인의 건강을 돌보는 상황입니다. 예:
You need to look after your health.(건강 좀 챙겨야 해.) - 3물건이나 재산을 관리할 때: 소중한 물건을 잃어버리지 않게 지키거나, 관리하는 상황입니다. 예:
Please look after my passport.(내 여권 좀 잘 보관해 줘.) - 4업무나 상황을 책임질 때: 회사에서 특정 업무를 맡아 처리하는 상황입니다. 예:
He is looking after the new project.(그가 새 프로젝트를 담당하고 있어.)
- 1분리 오류:
look과after사이에 목적어를 넣는 실수입니다. 한국어는 목적어 위치가 자유로워 '아이를 잘 돌봐'라고 해도 되지만, 영어는look the child after라고 하면 틀립니다. 이는 영어의 구동사 구조를 이해하지 못하고 한국어의 어순을 그대로 가져온 결과입니다. - 2
look for와의 혼동:look for는 '찾다(search)'이고look after는 '돌보다(take care of)'입니다. 한국어로는 둘 다 '보다'라는 단어가 포함되어 있어 헷갈리기 쉽습니다. 예:I am looking after my keys라고 하면 '내 열쇠를 돌보고 있다(지키고 있다)'가 되어버리므로, 열쇠를 찾고 있다면 반드시looking for를 써야 합니다. - 3
take care of와의 중복 사용:look after와take care of는 거의 같은 의미지만,take care of는 문제 해결(fix)의 의미가 더 강합니다. 한국어 학습자들은 모든 상황에take care of를 쓰려는 경향이 있는데, 사람을 돌볼 때는look after가 훨씬 더 따뜻하고 자연스러운 표현입니다.
look after | 돌보다, 책임지다 | 보살피다 | 주로 사람/동물/물건의 상태 유지 |look for | 찾다 | 찾다 | 대상을 발견하려는 의도 |take care of | 처리하다, 돌보다 | 해결하다, 돌보다 | 문제 해결의 의미가 더 강함 |look after는 '지속적인 관리'에 초점이 있다면, take care of는 '처리하다'라는 능동적인 해결의 뉘앙스가 섞여 있습니다. 상황에 맞춰 골라 쓰는 연습이 필요합니다.- 1Q:
look after를 수동태로 쓸 수 있나요?
The baby is being looked after by his aunt.처럼 쓸 수 있습니다. 다만, 구동사 전체를 하나의 동사처럼 취급하여 looked after를 함께 써야 합니다.- 1Q:
look after대신care를 쓰면 안 되나요?
care for는 '좋아하다(like)'라는 의미로 쓰일 수 있습니다. I care for you는 '너를 좋아해'라는 뜻이 될 수 있으므로, 돌보는 의미를 명확히 하려면 look after가 더 정확합니다.- 1Q:
look after는 격식 있는 표현인가요?
supervise나 be responsible for를 쓰기도 하지만, 친구나 동료 사이에서는 look after가 가장 자연스럽습니다.2. Negative Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
do not look after
|
don't look after
|
I don't look after cats.
|
|
does not look after
|
doesn't look after
|
He doesn't look after his car.
|
|
did not look after
|
didn't look after
|
We didn't look after the plants.
|
|
is not looking after
|
isn't looking after
|
She isn't looking after the baby.
|
Conjugating 'Look After'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I / You / We / They
|
look after
|
I look after the dog.
|
|
Present Simple
|
He / She / It
|
looks after
|
She looks after the dog.
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
looked after
|
We looked after the dog.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
I
|
am looking after
|
I am looking after the dog.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
He / She / It
|
is looking after
|
He is looking after the dog.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
I / You / We / They
|
have looked after
|
They have looked after the dog.
|
|
Future (Will)
|
All subjects
|
will look after
|
I will look after the dog.
|
|
Gerund
|
N/A
|
looking after
|
Looking after a dog is hard work.
|
Meanings
To take care of someone or something by ensuring they have what they need, remain safe, or stay in good condition.
Physical Care
Providing for the basic needs of a living being, like a child or a pet.
“She looks after her younger brother every afternoon.”
“Who is going to look after the dog while we are at work?”
Maintenance/Protection
Ensuring that property or objects do not get damaged or lost.
“Please look after my luggage for a minute while I buy a ticket.”
“You should look after your phone; it was very expensive.”
Responsibility/Management
Being in charge of a task, a department, or a business interest.
“My assistant looks after all my travel arrangements.”
“The finance department looks after the company's taxes.”
Reference Table
| 구동사 | 의미 | 사용 맥락 | 예시 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
`look after`
|
~을 돌보다/감독하다
|
사람, 동물, 사물
|
Can you `look after` my dog?
|
|
`take care of`
|
~을 돌보다, 또는 처리하다
|
`look after`와 비슷하며, 문제에도 사용
|
I'll `take care of` the arrangements.
|
|
`care for`
|
~을 돌보다 (더 격식), 또는 애정을 느끼다
|
사람 (특히 노인), 또는 감정적 유대
|
She `cares for` her ailing mother.
|
|
`mind`
|
잠시 돌보다 (영국 영어), 또는 꺼리다
|
짧은 시간 물건 감독, 또는 싫은 감정 표현
|
Do you `mind` my bag for a minute?
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
I am responsible for the oversight and well-being of the children. (childcare)
I am looking after the children today. (childcare)
I'm watching the kids. (childcare)
I'm on kid-duty. (childcare)
'Look After'의 세상
사물
- Phone My friend looks after my phone.
- House Can you look after the house?
- Luggage Please look after my luggage.
사람
- Children She looks after her children.
- Elderly Nurses look after patients.
- Yourself Remember to look after yourself.
동물
- Dog Who's looking after the dog?
- Cat I'm looking after a cat.
- Pets Looking after pets is fun.
책임
- Business He looks after the business.
- Accounts She looks after the accounts.
Look After vs. 유사 표현
'Look After'를 사용해야 할까요?
이 행동이 보살핌이나 감독에 관한 것인가요?
사람, 동물 또는 사물에 대한 것인가요?
무언가를 찾는 것에 관한 것인가요?
시각적으로 관찰하는 것에 관한 것인가요?
무엇을 'Look After'할 수 있을까요?
사람
- • 아이들
- • 노인 친척
- • 아픈 친구
- • 자기 자신
동물
- • 반려동물 (개, 고양이)
- • 농장 동물
- • 다친 야생동물
사물
- • 휴대폰/노트북
- • 집/식물
- • 귀중품
- • 가방/수하물
책임
- • 재정
- • 프로젝트
- • 부서
- • 고객의 필요
수준별 예문
I look after my cat.
I take care of my cat.
She looks after her baby.
She takes care of her baby.
Do you look after your toys?
Do you take care of your toys?
They look after the garden.
They take care of the garden.
I looked after my brother yesterday.
I took care of my brother yesterday.
Can you look after my bag for a minute?
Can you watch my bag for a minute?
We are looking after our neighbor's house.
We are taking care of our neighbor's house.
He doesn't look after his health.
He doesn't take care of his health.
I've been looking after this department for three years.
I have been managing this department for three years.
It's hard to look after a large house by yourself.
It is difficult to maintain a large house alone.
Who is looking after the arrangements for the party?
Who is handling the party arrangements?
You need to look after your skin in the sun.
You need to protect your skin in the sun.
The government needs to look after the interests of small businesses.
The government must protect small business interests.
She has a reputation for looking after her employees well.
She is known for taking good care of her staff.
If you look after your tools, they will last a lifetime.
If you maintain your tools, they will last forever.
He was looking after his elderly parents while working full-time.
He was caring for his aged parents while also working.
The executor is responsible for looking after the estate until probate is granted.
The executor manages the property until legal processes are finished.
In this industry, you really have to look after number one.
In this field, you must prioritize your own interests.
The charity looks after the welfare of retired greyhounds.
The charity manages the well-being of former racing dogs.
The museum looks after some of the world's most precious artifacts.
The museum preserves very valuable historical items.
The state's failure to look after its most vulnerable citizens led to a crisis.
The government's inability to care for the poor caused a crisis.
One must look after the nuances of the contract before signing.
One must attend to the small details of the contract.
He has spent a lifetime looking after the legacy of his late father.
He dedicated his life to preserving his father's reputation.
The ecological balance is looked after by a complex web of predators.
Nature's balance is maintained by predators.
혼동하기 쉬운
Both start with 'look' and involve an object, but one is about care and the other is about searching.
Learners sometimes use 'look after' when they just mean 'observing' something.
They are very similar, but 'take care of' can be used for solving problems, while 'look after' cannot.
자주 하는 실수
I look my dog after.
I look after my dog.
I look for my baby.
I look after my baby.
He look after the cat.
He looks after the cat.
I am look after the house.
I am looking after the house.
I will look after to you.
I will look after you.
She looked after her bag for a minute.
She looked after my bag for a minute.
Did you looked after the plants?
Did you look after the plants?
The project was looked after me.
The project was looked after by me.
I look after to my health.
I look after my health.
I'm looking after for a new job.
I'm looking for a new job.
He looks after number one's interests.
He looks after number one.
문장 패턴
I need someone to look after my ___ while I am ___.
It is important to look after your ___ if you want it to ___.
Who is going to look after the ___ for the ___?
Having to look after ___ taught me a lot about ___.
Real World Usage
I am looking after a Golden Retriever this weekend.
I looked after the budget for the entire marketing department.
Can someone look after Grandma on Tuesday?
Could you look after my seat while I go to the restroom?
He looks after the lawn every Saturday.
The nurses look after the patients around the clock.
떨어뜨리지 마세요!
Please look after my phone.
'look for'와 헷갈리지 마세요!
I am looking for my keys.vs
I am looking after your keys.
다재다능한 활용!
I look after my cat.
영국식과 미국식 영어
She looks after the kids.(BE)
She takes care of the kids.(AE)
과거형은 아주 쉬워요!
She looked after him yesterday.
Smart Tips
Use 'look after' to sound more like a leader. It implies you are in control of the outcome.
Treat 'look after' as a single, long verb that cannot be broken. If you can't put a word inside 'care', don't put one inside 'look after'.
Always put the pronoun at the very end. Phrasal verbs like 'pick up' change order with pronouns, but 'look after' never does.
Place the adverb at the end of the sentence, not between 'look' and 'after'.
발음
Stress Pattern
The primary stress is on the verb 'look', while 'after' is spoken more quickly and with less emphasis.
Linking
The 'k' in 'look' often links smoothly to the 'a' in 'after' in fast speech, sounding like 'loo-kafter'.
Falling Intonation
I'll look after it. ↘
Conveys a promise or a statement of fact.
암기하기
기억법
Think of 'After' as 'Behind'. If you look after someone, you are 'watching their back' to keep them safe.
시각적 연상
Imagine a mother duck walking in front and 'looking after' her ducklings who are following 'after' her in a line.
Rhyme
To keep it safe and keep it clean, look after things that must be seen.
Story
Once there was a boy who had a magic plant. He had to look after it every day. He looked after the water, he looked after the sunlight, and eventually, the plant looked after him by growing gold leaves.
Word Web
챌린지
Find three things in your room right now that you need to look after. Say out loud: 'I look after my [object] because [reason].'
문화 노트
In the UK, 'look after' is the standard way to talk about childcare. 'Babysitting' is the activity, but 'looking after' is the verb used most often in conversation.
Americans use 'look after' frequently, but 'take care of' is often the first choice in casual speech.
Using 'look after' in a CV or resume is seen as a positive trait, suggesting the candidate is reliable and capable of management without sounding overly aggressive.
The phrase dates back to Middle English. The word 'look' comes from Old English 'locian' (to see), and 'after' comes from 'æfter' (behind/following).
대화 시작하기
Who looks after your pets when you go on holiday?
What is the most difficult thing you have ever had to look after?
In your opinion, should the government look after everyone's health for free?
How do you look after your mental health during busy times?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Can you ___ my dog while I'm on holiday?
Look after는 돌보다라는 의미예요. Look at은 관찰하다, look for는 찾다라는 의미랍니다.Find and fix the mistake:
I need to look my little sister after tonight.
Look after는 분리할 수 없는 구동사예요. 목적어('my little sister')는 항상 전체 구동사 뒤에 와야 한답니다.Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
주어 + look after + 목적어예요.Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesYesterday, I ___ my neighbor's cat.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
She is look after the baby right now.
I take care of the garden every Sunday.
1. Look after, 2. Look for, 3. Look at
A: Can you help me? B: Sure, I can ___ your bags while you go.
Sentence: 'He looks his health after.'
after / will / your / who / dog / look / ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesDon't worry about your jacket, I'll ___ it for you.
Which of these sentences is grammatically incorrect?
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella cuida a sus padres ancianos.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct ending:
My job is to ___ the customers' needs and ensure their satisfaction.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: '¿Puedes cuidar mi casa mientras estoy fuera?'
The security guard looks out for the valuables in the gallery.
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /11
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
No, 'after' is the only preposition needed. Adding 'to' is a common mistake. Just say `look after someone`.
Not at all! You can `look after` pets, plants, houses, cars, and even abstract things like a business or your health.
They are mostly the same. However, `take care of` can also mean 'to deal with a problem' or 'to kill someone' (in movies!), while `look after` is strictly about caring and maintenance.
It is neutral. You can use it with your friends, but it is also perfectly fine to use in a business meeting or a job interview.
No. Unlike some phrasal verbs, `look after` is inseparable. The object must always come after the word 'after'.
Similar, but `look after` is more active. If you 'watch' a baby, you might just be looking at them. If you `look after` a baby, you are responsible for their needs.
You can say `The dog is looked after by my sister`. Note that 'looked' and 'after' still stay together.
It is very common in both, but British English speakers use it slightly more frequently than Americans, who might prefer 'take care of'.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Cuidar / Ocuparse de
English requires the particle 'after' to change the meaning of 'look'.
S'occuper de / Garder
The English structure is not reflexive and uses a phrasal verb.
Aufpassen auf / Sich kümmern um
German prepositions don't always map 1:1 with English particles.
世話をする (Sewa o suru)
Japanese uses a 'Noun + Verb' construction instead of a 'Verb + Particle' construction.
يعتني بـ (Ya'tani bi)
The direction of the prepositional logic differs.
照顾 (Zhàogù)
Chinese has no verb conjugation for tense, unlike 'look/looked/looking'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
관련 동영상
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