Part 1 of 2 · Same verb · different particle

“look” phrasal verbs

Same verb, different particle, different meaning. “look” has 13 of them, so they come in 2 parts. Learn these 7 one at a time, then test yourself.

13 phrasal verbslisten & quiz

look

after around back on down on for forward to in on

look + after · 1 of 7

look after

take care of

look after sth

To care for someone or something and make sure they are safe, healthy, or in good condition.

How oftenVery common

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Could you look after my dog while I'm on holiday?

A: Who's going to look after the kids tonight?
B: Don't worry, my sister said she can babysit.

Common mistake

Not: She looks after of her parents.

Say: She looks after her parents.

No 'of' — 'look after' takes its object directly.

More on “look after”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my culture, it is common for grandparents to look after their grandchildren while the parents are at work.

Tell it apart

Can you look after my plant while I'm away?

care for it

Can you look for my plant? I've lost it.

try to find it

Goes with

look after + person/thing

Practice saying this

Next: look around

look + around · 2 of 7

look around

to visit a place and look at the things in it

look around sth

to walk through a place and see what is there, often because you are interested or thinking about spending time or money there.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

We had some time before our train, so we decided to look around the city center.

A: Are you ready to leave the museum?
B: Not yet, I want to look around a bit more.

Common mistake

Not: Can I look around in the shop?

Say: Can I look around the shop? / Can I just look around?

'Look around + place' directly (no 'in'), or stand-alone 'look around'.

More on “look around”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

When I visit a new university, I always look around the campus to get a feel for the environment before making any decisions.

Tell it apart

We looked around the museum.

visited and viewed it

Look out — there's a step!

be careful

Goes with

look around

Practice saying this

Next: look back on

look + back on · 3 of 7

look back on

remember the past

look back on sth

To think about or remember something that happened in the past, often with a particular feeling or reflection.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

When I look back on my school days, I feel proud of how much I learned.

A: Do you ever look back on your time at university?
B: All the time! Those were some of the best years of my life.

Common mistake

Not: I look back my school days.

Say: I look back on my school days.

Don't drop 'on' — 'look back ON something'.

More on “look back on”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, it's important to look back on our achievements so we can appreciate how far we've come.

Tell it apart

I look back on it fondly.

remember it warmly

I look forward to it eagerly.

anticipate it

Goes with

look back on

Practice saying this

Next: look down on

look + down on · 4 of 7

look down on

consider inferior

look down on sb

To think that you are better than someone else, or to treat someone as if they are less important.

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Some people look down on others just because they have less money.

A: Why doesn't Mark talk to his neighbors?
B: I think he looks down on them because they didn't go to university.

Common mistake

Not: She looks down to poor people.

Say: She looks down on poor people.

It's 'look down ON someone', not 'down to'.

More on “look down on”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, it's wrong to look down on people who have different jobs or backgrounds. Everyone deserves respect.

Tell it apart

She looks down on them.

thinks she's superior — negative

She looks up to them.

admires / respects them — positive

Goes with

look down on

Practice saying this

Next: look for

look + for · 5 of 7

look for

try to find

look for sth

to try to find someone or something that you need or have lost.

How oftenVery common

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

I’m looking for my keys—have you seen them anywhere?

A: What are you doing under the table?
B: I’m looking for my phone. I think I dropped it.

Common mistake

Not: I'm looking my phone everywhere.

Say: I'm looking for my phone everywhere.

'Look for' = try to find; 'look at' = direct your eyes. Don't drop 'for'.

More on “look for”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In my opinion, when people look for a new job, they should consider both salary and work-life balance.

Tell it apart

I'm looking for my keys.

trying to find

I'm looking at the photos.

viewing them

Goes with

look for + target

Practice saying this

Next: look forward to

look + forward to · 6 of 7

look forward to

feel pleased about a future event

look forward to sth

To feel happy and excited because something good is going to happen.

How oftenVery common

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

I'm really looking forward to the concert next week.

A: Are you excited about your trip?
B: Definitely! I’ve been looking forward to it for months.

Common mistake

Not: I look forward to ~~meet~~ you.

Say: I look forward to meeting you.

Here 'to' is a preposition, so it's followed by -ing: 'look forward to meeting/seeing/hearing'.

More on “look forward to”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

I look forward to meeting new people when I start university.

Tell it apart

I'm looking forward to the trip.

excited about a future event

I'm looking for my passport.

trying to find it

Goes with

look forward to + -ing/noun

Practice saying this

Next: look in on

look + in on · 7 of 7

look in on

visit briefly to check on someone

look in on person

To visit someone for a short time to see if they are okay or need anything.

How oftenNow and then

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

I promised my neighbor I’d look in on her cat while she’s away.

A: Are you heading home now?
B: Not yet—I’m going to look in on my grandma and make sure she’s okay.

Common mistake

Not: Can you look in my grandad while I'm out?

Say: Can you look in on my grandad while I'm out?

Needs 'on' — 'look IN ON someone'.

More on “look in on”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

During the week, I often look in on my elderly relatives to see if they need any help with shopping or household chores.

Tell it apart

I'll look in on Grandma later.

a quick visit to check

I'll look after the kids tonight.

care for them for a while

Goes with

look in on

Practice saying this

Test yourself: which “look” fits?

Fill the gap

Which “look” fits?

Read the sentence, then pick the phrasal verb that belongs in the gap.

All of “look”

13 phrasal verbs in 2 parts.

Turn this into speaking practice

Pick one and say it out loud. Save the ones you mix up.

look after look around look back on look down on look for look forward to look in on