Phrasal Verbs – look – Grammar Teacher

Phrasal Verbs – look

May 20, 2011 By admin 12 comments

Today we’re going to start looking at the verb ‘to look’ combined with particles. Here are some of the most common:

‘to look after’ means to take care of someone or something.

When I have to travel on business, my parents usually look after my children.
I look after the office when my colleagues are away on business.

‘to look ahead’ means to think about and plan the future.

We have to look ahead and try to estimate our needs for the next few years.
In this business, it’s very difficult to look ahead and predict what will happen.

‘to look at’ means to read something quickly and not very thoroughly.

Could you look at my report and tell me if you think it’s OK?
I looked at your figures and they seem fine to me.

‘to look at’ can also mean to investigate or think carefully about a problem or situation.

Costs are getting out of control. We need to look at them closely.
John looked at renting cars but it would be too expensive.

‘to look back’ means to think about something that happened in the past.

I realise I was very naive when I look back.
If we look back over the last three years, we can see many times when we were very successful.

‘to look down on’ means to think something or someone is inferior.

The people who work in Headquarters always look down on the people in the branches.
Don’t look down on him just because he left school at 16. He has been very successful.

‘to look for’ means to try to find something lost or that you need.

My assistant is leaving at the end of the month. I’m looking for a new one.
He has been looking for a job for ages now.

‘to look forward to’ means to feel excited and happy about something that is going to happen.

I’m seeing him on Tuesday. I’m really looking forward to it.
We’re looking forward to our holidays. It will be wonderful to get away.

‘to look in’ means to visit someone for a short time.

I’ll look in on my way home and we can have a cup of tea.
Look in on Jenny and check that she is still working.

‘to look into’ means to examine a problem or situation.

My boss asked me to look into ways to do it more efficiently.
We have set up a working group to look into the problem.

exercise1

exercise 2

exercise 3

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12 Comments

SAHIB

May 5, 2011, 8:34 am

i am so happy.this lesson very easy. thanks sir or mam.

Victor Count

May 5, 2011, 12:01 pm

Dear Pearson, I have thoroughly read the info on the verb ” look” have done all three exercises, enjoyed them very much. Thanks a lot! Please, keep informing me of your new materials. May I ask you for a list of frequently used colloquial expressions?? Your gratefully Victor Degterenko, Russia