B1 Prepositions 18 min read Easy

Caring for things: 'Look after'

Look after means to take responsibility for the care or supervision of someone or something.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

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).
👤 + [look (tense)] + after + 🐶/👶/🏠

Overview

"Look after" means to care for someone or something.

This guide helps you use "look after" the right way.

Using "look after" correctly helps you speak English naturally.

How This Grammar Works

Keep "look" and "after" together. Put the person or thing last.
The word "after" here means you keep helping someone.
These two words together mean you keep something safe.
For instance, if you look after someone's pet, you are not merely observing it but actively ensuring its well-being over a period.
Look at how we build this phrase:
| Part | What it means | Example |
| :--------------- | :------------------------------------------------ | :-------------------------------------- |
| Subject | The entity performing the action. | I |
| Phrase | caring for someone | look after |
| Object | The entity receiving the care or supervision. | my plants |
Say "look after him". Do not put words between them.

Formation Pattern

1
Only the word "look" changes for time. "After" stays the same.
2
Here is how the word changes:
3
| Time | How to say it | Example sentence |
4
| :------------------- | :------------------------------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
5
| Present Simple | Subject + look(s) after + Object | He looks after his younger sister every afternoon. |
6
| Now | is / am / are looking after | They are looking after the dog. |
7
| Past Simple | Subject + looked after + Object | I looked after their house while they were on holiday. |
8
| Before | was / were looking after | She was looking after the kids. |
9
| Present Perfect | Subject + has/have looked after + Object | We have looked after this garden for over ten years. |
10
| Future Simple | Subject + will look after + Object | My colleague will look after my emails while I'm away. |
11
Always put the person or thing after "look after".

When To Use It

Use this when you help a person, animal, or thing.
You can use "look after" in these ways:
  • Childcare and Pet Care: This is perhaps the most direct application. When someone is tasked with supervising children or animals, look after is the natural choice. It implies feeding, protecting, entertaining, and generally ensuring their welfare. For example, My grandmother always looked after me during the summer holidays. or Our neighbours kindly look after our cat when we travel. In modern family dynamics, you might text, Can you look after the kids for an hour while I run to the shop?
  • Care for the Sick, Elderly, or Vulnerable: When individuals require assistance due to illness, age, or disability, look after describes the provision of necessary support and care. This can be professional or familial. The dedicated staff look after patients with chronic illnesses. or It's important to look after elderly relatives, ensuring they are comfortable and safe.
  • Guardianship of Possessions and Property: You use look after when you are entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding items, property, or even abstract concepts like accounts. This implies a duty to protect from harm, loss, or misuse. For example, Please look after my laptop; it contains important work. or The security team looks after the valuable exhibits at the museum. A common workplace instruction might be, I need someone to look after the inventory records while I'm on leave.
  • General Supervision and Management: In a broader sense, look after can refer to overseeing processes, ensuring tasks are completed, or managing responsibilities within an organization. It conveys a sense of diligent oversight. It's the team leader's role to look after project timelines and deliverables. or During the event, several volunteers looked after guest registration. This can also extend to self-care, as in You need to look after yourself after such a demanding week.

When Not To Use It

Only use "look after" for caring. Do not use it for everything.
Avoid using look after in the following contexts:
  • Visual Perception: If look means to direct your eyes toward something or to perceive visually, look after is incorrect. The presence of after completely changes the meaning from observation to care. For example, you look at a painting, not look after it, unless your role is to conserve or guard it. Incorrect: I looked after the sunset. Correct: I looked at the sunset.
  • Dealing with Problems or Tasks (unless it's supervisory): While look after involves responsibility, it doesn't typically mean to resolve a problem or to handle a specific task in a problem-solving sense. For instance, you don't look after a broken computer; you fix or repair it. You might look after the computer user, but not the malfunction itself. Incorrect: I'll look after the leak in the pipe. Correct: I'll fix the leak in the pipe.
  • Appearance or Seeming: When look is used as a linking verb to describe someone's appearance or state, look after is inappropriate. Here, look connects the subject to an adjective or noun complement. For example, You look tired is correct. Incorrect: You look after tired. (This makes no sense). Correct: He looks happy.
  • Searching: The phrasal verb look for means to search for something. This is distinct from look after, which implies guarding or caring for something you already possess or are responsible for. Confusing these can lead to significant misunderstandings. If you ask someone to look after your keys, you want them to keep them safe. If you ask them to look for your keys, you want them to find them. Incorrect: Can you look after my lost phone? Correct: Can you look for my lost phone? (or Can you help me find my lost phone?)
  • Emotional Affection or Liking: While look after indicates care, it doesn't convey emotional affection or liking. Phrases like care for can sometimes mean to have affection for, but look after lacks this nuance. You care for someone deeply, but you look after their physical well-being or possessions. Incorrect: I look after my friend a lot. Correct: I care for my friend a lot. (if expressing affection)

Common Mistakes

Many students make mistakes. Learn the rules to speak well.
  • Separating look and after: This is the most prevalent error. As an inseparable phrasal verb, the object must follow the entire look after unit. Interposing the object between look and after is ungrammatical and sounds highly unnatural to native speakers. This mistake often occurs when learners try to apply rules from separable phrasal verbs, which allow an object to come between the verb and particle.
  • Incorrect: Can you look my bag after for a moment?
  • Correct: Can you look after my bag for a moment?
  • Incorrect: She looked her little brother after yesterday.
  • Correct: She looked after her little brother yesterday.
  • Confusing with look for: The subtle difference in preposition creates a completely distinct meaning. Look for signifies an act of searching, while look after denotes an act of guarding or tending. This confusion can lead to humorous, yet critical, misunderstandings, particularly in requests.
  • If you say: Please look for my children. (You are asking someone to help find your children who are missing.)
  • If you say: Please look after my children. (You are asking someone to care for your children.)
  • Using look after for general take care of in problem-solving contexts: While look after and take care of are often interchangeable for caretaking, take care of has an additional meaning of dealing with a problem or managing a situation. Look after rarely carries this problem-solving connotation. Applying look after in such contexts is incorrect.
  • Incorrect: Don't worry about the broken printer; I'll look after it.
  • Correct: Don't worry about the broken printer; I'll take care of it. (meaning I'll fix/deal with it).
  • Correct: Don't worry about the children; I'll look after them. (meaning I'll care for them).
  • Applying look after to appearance: As previously noted, look after is not a linking verb that describes a state or appearance. This error indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of verb categories.
  • Incorrect: You look after tired today.
  • Correct: You look tired today.
  • Overusing or misapplying look after with inanimate objects for brief, non-custodial moments: While you can look after your phone, it implies a period of responsibility. For a fleeting glance or brief retention, mind or a simpler verb is often more natural. You wouldn't typically say Just look after this pen for a second if you simply mean Hold this pen for a second. The implication of look after is more substantial.
Learn these rules to speak English with no mistakes.

Common Collocations

Some words sound good with "look after". Use them to sound natural.
Here are common things we look after:
  • People & Animals: These are the most frequent objects, emphasizing direct care.
  • look after the kids/children/baby: I’m looking after my niece and nephew this weekend.
  • look after your parents/grandparents/elderly relatives: It's a duty to look after your aging parents.
  • look after a pet/dog/cat/fish: Could you look after my goldfish while I'm away?
  • look after a patient/client: Nurses look after patients with great compassion.
  • look after yourself: This is a reflexive usage, meaning to care for one's own health and well-being. After a long day, you need to look after yourself.
  • Possessions & Property: This category highlights safeguarding objects from harm or loss.
  • look after a house/apartment: They asked me to look after their house while they were on vacation.
  • look after the garden/plants: Who's looking after the office plants this week?
  • look after my bag/wallet/belongings: Please look after my phone while I quickly use the restroom.
  • look after the equipment/machinery: It's crucial to look after laboratory equipment to ensure its longevity.
  • Abstract Concepts & Responsibilities: This demonstrates the broader application to management and oversight.
  • look after the business/shop/accounts: It’s Mark’s job to look after the daily operations of the store.
  • look after your reputation/interests: A good lawyer looks after their client's best interests.
  • look after the team/staff/colleagues: A good manager looks after the well-being of their team.
You can look after many different people and things.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

Other words mean "care". "Look after" is for helping someone.
We will show you the differences now.
1. Take care of
Take care of is like look after. They are almost the same.
| Feature | look after | take care of |
| :--------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------------------- |
| Core Meaning | To guard, supervise, tend to (direct care) | To guard, supervise, tend to; also to manage/solve |
One word fixes problems. The other word does not.
| Formality | Neutral | Neutral |
  • Interchangeable usage: I'll look after the children. = I'll take care of the children. (meaning to babysit/supervise)
  • Unique take care of usage: Don't worry about the arrangements; I'll take care of them. (Here, look after would be incorrect, as it implies solving or managing logistical issues, not simply supervising them.)
  • Cultural Insight: While both are common, take care of might be slightly more pervasive due to its dual meaning, appearing in more diverse contexts related to responsibility and problem resolution.
2. Care for
Care for can be interchangeable with look after but often carries a stronger emotional or professional nuance, implying deeper affection, dedication, or a sustained, formal role of caring. It can also mean to like someone.
| Feature | look after | care for |
| :--------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------- |\
| Core Meaning | To guard, supervise, tend to (practical care) | To tend to; also to feel affection for; to like |\
One is for work. The other shows love.
| Formality | Neutral | Can be slightly more formal or emotive |\
  • Practical Care (often interchangeable): She cares for her ailing mother. (can also be looks after)
  • Emotional Affection (unique to care for): I care for him deeply. (cannot be look after)
  • Professional Care (stronger nuance): Professional caregivers care for patients with complex needs. (emphasizes sustained, dedicated effort)
3. Mind
British people say mind. Use it for a short time.
| Feature | look after | mind |\
| :--------------- | :------------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------- |\
| Duration | Can imply extended or ongoing responsibility | Often implies brief, temporary supervision |\
One is normal. One is for friends.
Everyone uses one. British people use the other more.
  • Could you mind my bag for a minute while I get a coffee? (More common than look after for a brief task.)
  • Will you mind the store while I step out? (Similar to look after in this context, but implies shorter duration.)
  • Note: Mind also has many other meanings (e.g., to obey, to object, to pay attention).
4. Look at
This means using your eyes. It is not helping.
  • Look at that beautiful painting! (Visual observation)
  • The doctor looked at my throat. (Examination)
5. Look for
Look for means searching. You want to find something.
  • I'm looking for my keys. (Searching)
  • Are you looking for trouble? (Seeking)
6. Look out for
Watch carefully. Be ready. It is not helping.
  • Look out for traffic when you cross the road. (Be careful/vigilant)
  • I'll look out for you at the concert. (Watch for your arrival/presence)
  • Good friends always look out for each other. (Protect each other's interests, be supportive)
7. Look up to
You like someone very much. It is not helping.
  • Many young athletes look up to their Olympic heroes. (Admire)
Compare these words. You will learn the differences.

Quick FAQ

Here are answers to your questions. This helps you.
  • Q: Can look after be used for both people and inanimate objects?
  • A: Yes, absolutely. You can look after a child, a pet, a house, or even your phone. The core meaning of providing care, supervision, or safeguarding applies equally to animate and inanimate objects, as long as the context implies responsibility for their well-being or condition.
  • Q: Is look after a formal or informal phrasal verb?
  • A: Look after is remarkably neutral in terms of formality. It is appropriate and common in a wide range of situations, from casual conversations among friends (Can you look after my cat this weekend?) to more professional or formal contexts (It's the committee's responsibility to look after the budget.). It will not sound out of place in either setting.
  • Q: What is the correct word order when using look after with an object?
  • A: Look after is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means the object must always come after the entire phrase look after. You cannot place the object between look and after. For example, She looks after the children is correct; She looks the children after is incorrect.
  • Q: How is look after conjugated in different tenses?
  • A: Only the verb look conjugates, while after remains unchanged. The pattern follows regular English verb conjugations. Examples include looks after (present simple, 3rd person singular), looked after (past simple), is looking after (present continuous), and will look after (future simple).
  • Q: Does look after imply a long-term or short-term responsibility?
  • A: Look after can imply both. It depends entirely on the context. You can look after a friend's bag for five minutes (Could you look after my bag while I pop to the shop?), or you can look after a garden for many years (My grandmother has looked after this garden for over fifty years.). The duration is flexible.
  • Q: Is look after a transitive or intransitive phrasal verb?
  • A: Look after is a transitive phrasal verb. It always requires a direct object to complete its meaning. You cannot simply say I look after without specifying who or what you are caring for. For example, I look after my sister is correct, but I look after (on its own) is incomplete.
  • Q: Can look after be used reflexively?
  • A: Yes, it can. When you say look after yourself, it means to take care of your own well-being, health, and needs. This is a very common and important usage, particularly for promoting self-care. For example, After working so hard, remember to look after yourself.
These answers provide direct and clear guidance on the practical application of look after, addressing the ambiguities that often arise for intermediate learners.

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.

1

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?”

2

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.”

3

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

Reference table for Caring for things: 'Look after'
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Subject + look (tense) + after + Object
He looks after his sister.
Negative
Subject + auxiliary + not + look + after + Object
I don't look after the garden.
Question
Auxiliary + Subject + look + after + Object?
Do you look after your health?
Short Answer (+)
Yes, + Subject + auxiliary
Yes, I do.
Short Answer (-)
No, + Subject + auxiliary + not
No, she doesn't.
Continuous
Subject + be + looking after + Object
They are looking after the house.
Modal
Subject + modal + look after + Object
You should look after yourself.
Passive
Object + be + looked after + (by Subject)
The baby is looked after by Mary.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
I am responsible for the oversight and well-being of the children.

I am responsible for the oversight and well-being of the children. (childcare)

Neutral
I am looking after the children today.

I am looking after the children today. (childcare)

Informal
I'm watching the kids.

I'm watching the kids. (childcare)

Slang
I'm on kid-duty.

I'm on kid-duty. (childcare)

What can we 'Look After'?

Look After

People

  • Children Babies, siblings
  • Elderly Grandparents

Animals

  • Pets Dogs, cats
  • Livestock Cows, sheep

Property

  • House Home, garden
  • Possessions Luggage, phone

Abstract

  • Business Finances, clients
  • Self Health, well-being

Look After vs. Look For

Look After
Caring I have the keys and I am watering the plants.
Look For
Searching I lost my keys and I am trying to find them.

Can I separate 'Look' and 'After'?

1

Is it the phrasal verb meaning 'to care for'?

YES
Keep them together!
NO
Check other meanings.
2

Is the object a pronoun (him/her/it)?

YES
Put it AFTER 'after'. (e.g., Look after him)
NO
Put it AFTER 'after'. (e.g., Look after the dog)
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

I look after my cat.

2

She looks after her baby.

3

Do you look after your toys?

4

They look after the garden.

1

I looked after my brother yesterday.

2

Can you look after my bag for a minute?

3

We are looking after our neighbor's house.

4

He doesn't look after his health.

1

I've been looking after this department for three years.

2

It's hard to look after a large house by yourself.

3

Who is looking after the arrangements for the party?

4

You need to look after your skin in the sun.

1

The government needs to look after the interests of small businesses.

2

She has a reputation for looking after her employees well.

3

If you look after your tools, they will last a lifetime.

4

He was looking after his elderly parents while working full-time.

1

The executor is responsible for looking after the estate until probate is granted.

2

In this industry, you really have to look after number one.

3

The charity looks after the welfare of retired greyhounds.

4

The museum looks after some of the world's most precious artifacts.

1

The state's failure to look after its most vulnerable citizens led to a crisis.

2

One must look after the nuances of the contract before signing.

3

He has spent a lifetime looking after the legacy of his late father.

4

The ecological balance is looked after by a complex web of predators.

Easily Confused

Caring for things: 'Look after' vs Look after vs. Look for

Both start with 'look' and involve an object, but one is about care and the other is about searching.

Caring for things: 'Look after' vs Look after vs. Look at

Learners sometimes use 'look after' when they just mean 'observing' something.

Caring for things: 'Look after' vs Look after vs. Take care of

They are very similar, but 'take care of' can be used for solving problems, while 'look after' cannot.

Common Mistakes

✗

I look my dog after.

✓

I look after my dog.

You cannot put the dog between 'look' and 'after'.
✗

I look for my baby.

✓

I look after my baby.

'Look for' means you lost the baby! 'Look after' means you are caring for them.
✗

He look after the cat.

✓

He looks after the cat.

Don't forget the 's' for third person singular.
✗

I am look after the house.

✓

I am looking after the house.

Use the -ing form for continuous actions.
✗

I will look after to you.

✓

I will look after you.

Do not add 'to' after 'after'.
✗

She looked after her bag for a minute.

✓

She looked after my bag for a minute.

Make sure the possessive pronoun matches the context.
✗

Did you looked after the plants?

✓

Did you look after the plants?

After 'did', use the base form of the verb.
✗

The project was looked after me.

✓

The project was looked after by me.

In the passive voice, you still need 'by' to show the agent.
✗

I look after to my health.

✓

I look after my health.

Again, avoid adding 'to'.
✗

I'm looking after for a new job.

✓

I'm looking for a new job.

Using 'after' when you mean 'searching'.
✗

He looks after number one's interests.

✓

He looks after number one.

The idiom 'look after number one' already implies interests; adding more is redundant.

Sentence Patterns

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

Pet Sitting Apps very common

I am looking after a Golden Retriever this weekend.

Job Interviews common

I looked after the budget for the entire marketing department.

Family Group Chats constant

Can someone look after Grandma on Tuesday?

Travel/Airports occasional

Could you look after my seat while I go to the restroom?

Gardening/Home Maintenance common

He looks after the lawn every Saturday.

Healthcare very common

The nurses look after the patients around the clock.

Sign up free to see all examples
⚠️

Inseparable!

Never say 'Look him after.' The particle 'after' must always come immediately before the object.
💡

Use with Adverbs

You can add adverbs to show how well someone is cared for. Example: 'She looks after her car **very well**.'
🎯

Professional CVs

Use 'looked after' instead of 'did' to describe your past responsibilities. It sounds much more proactive.
💬

Politeness

When asking a stranger to watch your things, 'Could you look after...' is slightly more polite than 'Can you watch...'

Smart Tips

Use 'look after' to sound more like a leader. It implies you are in control of the outcome.

I did the customer service. → I looked after the customer service department.

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'.

Look the cat after. → Look after the cat.

Always put the pronoun at the very end. Phrasal verbs like 'pick up' change order with pronouns, but 'look after' never does.

Look him after. → Look after him.

Place the adverb at the end of the sentence, not between 'look' and 'after'.

He looks well after his dog. → He looks after his dog well.

Pronunciation

/ˈlʊk ˌɑːftə/

Stress Pattern

The primary stress is on the verb 'look', while 'after' is spoken more quickly and with less emphasis.

look-after

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.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'After' as 'Behind'. If you look after someone, you are 'watching their back' to keep them safe.

Visual Association

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

careprotectmaintainresponsibleguardnurturestewardship

Challenge

Find three things in your room right now that you need to look after. Say out loud: 'I look after my [object] because [reason].'

Cultural Notes

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).

Conversation Starters

“

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?

Journal Prompts

Write about a time you looked after a younger sibling or a pet. What did you do?
Describe your dream job. What kind of responsibilities would you look after?
Discuss the importance of looking after the environment. What can individuals do?
Reflect on the phrase 'looking after number one.' Is it always bad to be selfish?

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the correct form of 'look after'.

Yesterday, I ___ my neighbor's cat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: looked after
The word 'Yesterday' indicates the past tense.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I need to look after my brother.
'Look after' is inseparable; the object must come at the end.
Identify the error in this sentence: 'She is look after the baby right now.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

She is look after the baby right now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'look' to 'looking'
The phrase 'right now' requires the present continuous tense.
Rewrite the sentence using 'look after'. Sentence Transformation

I take care of the garden every Sunday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I look after the garden every Sunday.
'Look after' is a direct synonym for 'take care of' in this context.
Match the verb to its meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Care, 2-Search, 3-Observe
These are three distinct phrasal verbs with different meanings.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Can you help me? B: Sure, I can ___ your bags while you go.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: look after
The context implies guarding or taking care of the bags.
Is the use of 'look after' correct or incorrect? Grammar Sorting

Sentence: 'He looks his health after.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Incorrect
It is inseparable. It should be 'He looks after his health.'
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

after / will / your / who / dog / look / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Who will look after your dog?
The standard question structure is Question Word + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb Phrase.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct form of 'look after'.

Yesterday, I ___ my neighbor's cat.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: looked after
The word 'Yesterday' indicates the past tense.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I need to look after my brother.
'Look after' is inseparable; the object must come at the end.
Identify the error in this sentence: 'She is look after the baby right now.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

She is look after the baby right now.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change 'look' to 'looking'
The phrase 'right now' requires the present continuous tense.
Rewrite the sentence using 'look after'. Sentence Transformation

I take care of the garden every Sunday.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I look after the garden every Sunday.
'Look after' is a direct synonym for 'take care of' in this context.
Match the verb to its meaning. Match Pairs

1. Look after, 2. Look for, 3. Look at

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Care, 2-Search, 3-Observe
These are three distinct phrasal verbs with different meanings.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Can you help me? B: Sure, I can ___ your bags while you go.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: look after
The context implies guarding or taking care of the bags.
Is the use of 'look after' correct or incorrect? Grammar Sorting

Sentence: 'He looks his health after.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Incorrect
It is inseparable. It should be 'He looks after his health.'
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Building

after / will / your / who / dog / look / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Who will look after your dog?
The standard question structure is Question Word + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb Phrase.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

11 exercises
Choose the correct phrasal verb to complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Don't worry about your jacket, I'll ___ it for you.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: look after
Identify the incorrect sentence and choose the correct version. Error Correction

Which of these sentences is grammatically incorrect?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My grandma looks after her garden.
Which sentence correctly uses 'look after'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I need to look after my homework.
Translate the sentence into English. Translation

Translate into English: 'Ella cuida a sus padres ancianos.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["She looks after her elderly parents.","She takes care of her elderly parents."]
Put the words in order to form a grammatically correct sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She looks after the company's finances.
Match the subjects with the correct continuation using 'look after'. Match Pairs

Match the subjects with the correct ending:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: matched
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'look after'. Fill in the Blank

My job is to ___ the customers' needs and ensure their satisfaction.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: look after
Select the sentence that correctly conveys the meaning of care or supervision. Multiple Choice

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Don't worry, I'll take good care of your laptop.
Type the correct English sentence using 'look after'. Translation

Translate into English: '¿Puedes cuidar mi casa mientras estoy fuera?'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Can you look after my house while I'm away?","Could you look after my house while I'm away?"]
Correct the mistake in the given sentence. Error Correction

The security guard looks out for the valuables in the gallery.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The security guard looks after the valuables in the gallery.
Reorder the words to form a coherent sentence. Sentence Reorder

Arrange these words into a sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can you make sure to look after yourself?

Score: /11

FAQ (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

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Cuidar / Ocuparse de

English requires the particle 'after' to change the meaning of 'look'.

French low

S'occuper de / Garder

The English structure is not reflexive and uses a phrasal verb.

German moderate

Aufpassen auf / Sich kümmern um

German prepositions don't always map 1:1 with English particles.

Japanese none

世話をする (Sewa o suru)

Japanese uses a 'Noun + Verb' construction instead of a 'Verb + Particle' construction.

Arabic moderate

يعتني بـ (Ya'tani bi)

The direction of the prepositional logic differs.

Chinese low

照顾 (Zhàogù)

Chinese has no verb conjugation for tense, unlike 'look/looked/looking'.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Disappointing Someone (Phrasal Verb: Let down)
Next
How to Use 'Settle Down' (Calm & Stable)

Related Videos

Rheanyra Meets Daemon At Harrenhal Full Scene- House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 8 05:04

Rheanyra Meets Daemon At Harrenhal Full Scene- House Of The Dragon Season 2 Episode 8
Psychological Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #28 10:09

Psychological Disorders: Crash Course Psychology #28
Bryan Cranston Answers Your Questions | Actually Me 08:35

Bryan Cranston Answers Your Questions | Actually Me

Related Grammar Rules

C1

The Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Accepting Reality)

Overview The phrasal verb `face up to` represents a critical concept for C1 English learners, denoting the often challen...
A1

Time Prepositions: in, on, at

Overview "In", "on", and "at" are very important words. They help you talk about time. They tell people when things happ...
B1

Phrasal Verb: Take off (Removing & Departing)

Overview Phrasal verbs are a fundamental aspect of natural English, and `take off` stands out as particularly versatile...
B1

Wait a second! Using 'Hold on'

Overview `Hold on` is a highly versatile phrasal verb in English, primarily used to request a pause or to maintain a con...
B1

Dressing Up: Formal Clothes & Costumes (Dress up)

Overview `Dress up` is a versatile phrasal verb in English, crucial for describing the act of wearing special attire. It...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!