Look Into: Investigating Causes and Situations
1 Introduction
The phrasal verb look into is essential for discussing investigations and research. It’s a common way to say you will examine or investigate something, especially a problem or situation that needs attention.
Key Terms
- look into
- to investigate or examine something carefully
💬 Section 1: Office Problem
A manager discussing a technical issue with IT support
2 Lexical Breakdown
Main uses of look into:
1. To investigate a problem or situation: ‘The police will look into the matter.’
2. To research or study a topic: ‘I’ll look into the cost of new equipment.’
Important Note: ‘Look into’ is a non-separable phrasal verb. This means we cannot put an object between ‘look’ and ‘into’. We cannot say ‘look it into’ – we must say ‘look into it’.
Key Terms
- investigate
- to examine a problem or situation carefully to find out the truth
- matter
- a situation or subject being dealt with
💬 Section 2: Police Investigation
At a police station reporting a break-in
3 Word Family and Variants
Related forms:
– investigation (noun): ‘The investigation is ongoing.’
– investigative (adjective): ‘investigative journalism’
– investigator (noun): ‘a private investigator’
Key Terms
- investigation
- the process of examining a problem or situation carefully
- investigative
- related to or involving investigation
- investigator
- someone who investigates problems or situations professionally
4 Collocations and Combinations
Common combinations:
– look into a matter
– look into a problem
– look into a situation
– look into the possibility
– look into options
Key Terms
- possibility
- something that might happen or be done
- options
- choices or alternatives available in a situation