Cuidar das coisas: 'Look after'
cuidar, supervisionar ou ser responsável por algo ou alguém. Pense em responsabilidade!
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
- 1Cuidar de pessoas ou pets: 'Can you look after my dog while I'm at work?' (Você pode cuidar do meu cachorro enquanto estou no trabalho?). É muito comum pedir isso para amigos ou vizinhos.
- 2Zelar por bens materiais: 'Please look after my laptop, I'll be back in a second' (Por favor, cuide do meu notebook, volto num segundo). Aqui, o sentido é de proteger algo de valor.
- 3Tarefas de supervisão no trabalho: 'She looks after the marketing department' (Ela cuida/gerencia o departamento de marketing). Aqui, o 'cuidar' ganha um tom de responsabilidade profissional.
- 4Autocuidado: 'You should look after yourself better' (Você deveria cuidar melhor de si mesmo). É um conselho muito comum entre amigos que se preocupam com a saúde do outro.
- 1Separar o phrasal verb: Muitos alunos tentam dizer 'look my house after'. Isso acontece porque, em português, a gente separa o verbo do complemento. Em inglês, como o 'look after' é inseparável, isso soa muito estranho. A regra é: o objeto sempre vem depois do conjunto.
- 2Confundir 'look after' com 'look for': O brasileiro muitas vezes confunde 'cuidar' com 'procurar'. Se você diz 'I am looking after my keys', você está dizendo que está 'mimando' suas chaves, cuidando delas com carinho, quando na verdade você queria dizer que está procurando por elas ('looking for'). A interferência ocorre porque, em português, a gente usa 'cuidar' e 'procurar' em contextos que parecem similares, mas em inglês, a preposição muda tudo.
- 3Adicionar preposições extras: Por causa do 'cuidar de', o aluno tenta dizer 'look after of my cat'. O 'after' já faz o trabalho da preposição 'de'. Adicionar o 'of' é redundante e gramaticalmente incorreto. O 'after' é suficiente para conectar o verbo ao objeto.
- 1Posso usar 'look after' para me referir a um problema?
- 1Existe diferença entre 'look after' e 'take care of'?
- 1Por que não posso colocar o objeto no meio de 'look after'?
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
| Phrasal Verb | Significado | Contexto de Uso | Exemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
|
`look after`
|
Cuidar/Supervisionar
|
Pessoas, animais, objetos
|
Can you `look after` my dog?
|
|
`take care of`
|
Cuidar, ou lidar com
|
Similar a `look after`, também problemas
|
I'll `take care of` the arrangements.
|
|
`care for`
|
Cuidar (mais formal), ou sentir afeição por
|
Pessoas (muitas vezes idosos), ou laços emocionais
|
She `cares for` her ailing mother.
|
|
`mind`
|
Cuidar brevemente (BE), ou opor-se a
|
Supervisão breve de itens, ou expressar desagrado
|
Do you `mind` my bag for a minute?
|
Espectro de formalidade
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)
O Mundo de 'Look After'
Objetos
- Phone My friend looks after my phone.
- House Can you look after the house?
- Luggage Please look after my luggage.
Pessoas
- Children She looks after her children.
- Elderly Nurses look after patients.
- Yourself Remember to look after yourself.
Animais
- Dog Who's looking after the dog?
- Cat I'm looking after a cat.
- Pets Looking after pets is fun.
Responsabilidades
- Business He looks after the business.
- Accounts She looks after the accounts.
Look After vs. Expressões Similares
Devo Usar 'Look After'?
A ação é sobre prestar cuidado ou supervisão?
É para uma pessoa, animal ou objeto?
É sobre procurar algo?
É sobre observar visualmente?
O Que Você Pode 'Look After'?
Pessoas
- • Children
- • Elderly relatives
- • Sick friends
- • Yourself
Animais
- • Pets (dogs, cats)
- • Farm animals
- • Injured wildlife
Objetos
- • Phone/Laptop
- • House/Plants
- • Valuables
- • Bags/Luggage
Responsabilidades
- • Finances
- • Projects
- • Departments
- • Client needs
Exemplos por nível
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.
Fácil de confundir
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.
Erros comuns
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.
Padrões de frases
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.
Manter Juntos!
Never put the object between look and after!
Não confunda com 'look for'!
A small word change makes a huge difference in meaning!
Versatilidade é a chave
Inglês Britânico vs. Americano
Both are correct, though!
Passado é fácil!
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'.
Pronúncia
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.
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'After' as 'Behind'. If you look after someone, you are 'watching their back' to keep them safe.
Associação visual
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
Desafio
Find three things in your room right now that you need to look after. Say out loud: 'I look after my [object] because [reason].'
Notas culturais
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).
Iniciadores de conversa
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?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
Can you ___ my dog while I'm on holiday?
Find and fix the mistake:
I need to look my little sister after tonight.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Exercicios praticos
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
Perguntas frequentes (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
2
3
4
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
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