look after
π Pronunciation
/lΚk ΛΙΛftΙ(r)/
Stress: primary stress on particle
particle stress important for meaning distinction from literal 'look' + 'after'
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ Word Family
| Word Class | Forms |
|---|---|
| Verbs | look after, looks after, looked after, looking after |
| Nouns | looking-after |
| Adjectives | well-looked-after |
limited derivational forms compared to single verbs
π Phrasal Verb Structure
Base verb: lookParticle: after
Transitivity: transitive
π Meanings
Meaning 1
to take care of someone or something
Formal equivalent: care for, tend, supervise
SEMI-LITERAL
“Who's looking after the children tonight?”
“Could you look after my plants while I'm away?”
“She looks after her elderly parents”
Meaning 2
to be responsible for maintaining something
Formal equivalent: maintain, manage
ABSTRACT
“The gardener looks after the grounds”
“Who looks after the company accounts?”
“They look after all the IT systems”
β οΈ Separability Rules
Rule: INSEPARABLE
Pronoun Placement
β look after them
β look after it
β look them after
π‘ Think of it Like This
Imagine watching over something with attention and care
Memory aid: Picture a guardian angel looking down at someone they protect
Reflects responsibility and duty in English-speaking cultures
π Usage Patterns
Grammatical Contexts
Imperative: “Please look after my bag”
Continuous: “I'm looking after the baby today”
Perfect: “She has looked after him for years”
Passive: “The children are being looked after by their grandmother”
Modal: “Could you look after this for me?”
Question: “Who's looking after the dog?”
Negative: “Nobody looks after the garden anymore”
Common in:
β οΈ Common Errors
β look the children afterββ look after the children
attempting to separate inseparable phrasal verb
Common for: Germanic languages with separable prefixes
High impact
β look for the children (when meaning care for)ββ look after the children
confusion with similar phrasal verb
β guard afterββ look after
literal translation from other languages
β look them afterββ look after them
incorrect pronoun placement
β look after to the childrenββ look after the children
adding unnecessary preposition
π Register & Alternatives
Formality: neutral
Single-verb alternatives
Formal: supervise, maintain, care for
Neutral: take care of, mind
Informal: keep an eye on
Use phrasal verb: everyday conversation, informal writing
Use single verb: formal documents, academic writing
π Etymology
Origin: Old English 'locian Γ¦fter'