1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb “look after” is an essential expression in English, particularly valuable for IELTS candidates. It primarily means to take care of or to be responsible for someone or something.

Primary Meanings:

1. To take care of someone or something
2. To be responsible for someone or something
3. To maintain or keep in good condition

Synonyms: care for, tend to, watch over, mind, supervise

2. Contextual Usage

“Look after” is versatile and can be used in various contexts:

• Informal: “Can you look after my dog while I’m on vacation?”
• Formal: “The company looks after its employees’ well-being through comprehensive health programs.”
• Written: “In her will, she requested that her sister look after her children.”
• Spoken: “I’ve been looking after my grandparents since they fell ill.”

Contextual usage of 'look after'

3. Grammar Analysis

“Look after” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning the object always comes after the entire phrase.

Correct: “She looks after her younger siblings.”
Incorrect: “She looks her younger siblings after.”

When using pronouns, they come after the entire phrasal verb:

• “I look after them,” not “I look them after.”

4. Application in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking:

“Look after” can enhance your responses, particularly in Part 2 and 3 of the speaking test.

Example question: “Describe a responsibility you have in your daily life.”

Sample answer: “One of my main responsibilities is looking after my younger sister. As our parents work long hours, I’m in charge of picking her up from school, helping with her homework, and ensuring she has dinner. Looking after her has taught me a lot about patience and time management.”

In IELTS Writing:

While “look after” is more informal, it can be used effectively in Task 1 (if appropriate to the context) and Task 2 essays.

Example for Task 2: “In many societies, it is common for adult children to look after their aging parents. This arrangement can have both positive and negative impacts on family dynamics.”

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Take care of /teɪk keər əv/: To look after or be responsible for
   Example: “I’ll take care of the dinner preparations tonight.”

2. Care for /keər fɔːr/: To look after someone who is ill or old
   Example: “She cares for her elderly mother at home.”

3. Watch over /wɒtʃ ˈəʊvər/: To protect or take care of someone or something
   Example: “The security guard watches over the building at night.”

4. Keep an eye on /kiːp ən aɪ ɒn/: To watch carefully or look after for a short time
   Example: “Could you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the restroom?”

5. See to /siː tuː/: To take care of or deal with something
   Example: “I’ll see to the travel arrangements for our business trip.”

6. Tend to /tend tuː/: To take care of or look after
   Example: “The nurse tends to the patients in the ward.”

7. Look out for /lʊk aʊt fɔːr/: To take care of and protect
   Example: “As the oldest sibling, I always look out for my younger brothers and sisters.”

Related phrasal verbs to 'look after'

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. Can you ___ my plants while I’m away?
2. The babysitter is ___ the children tonight.
3. It’s important to ___ your health.
4. Who will ___ the elderly in our society?
5. She’s been ___ her sick mother for months.
6. The zookeeper ___ the animals daily.
7. Parents need to ___ their children’s online activities.
8. The company promises to ___ its employees’ interests.
9. We need to ___ the environment for future generations.
10. He’s responsible for ___ the new interns at work.

Sentence Transformation

1. Original: She takes care of her grandmother.
   Rewrite: She ___ her grandmother.

2. Original: The manager is responsible for the new project.
   Rewrite: The manager ___ the new project.

3. Original: Can you watch my bag for a moment?
   Rewrite: Can you ___ my bag for a moment?

4. Original: The charity organization cares for homeless people.
   Rewrite: The charity organization ___ homeless people.

5. Original: It’s my job to maintain the garden.
   Rewrite: It’s my job to ___ the garden.

6. Original: Who will be responsible for the guests during the event?
   Rewrite: Who will ___ the guests during the event?

7. Original: The company takes good care of its employees.
   Rewrite: The company ___ its employees well.

8. Original: She’s in charge of supervising the new staff members.
   Rewrite: She’s in charge of ___ the new staff members.

9. Original: We need to protect our natural resources.
   Rewrite: We need to ___ our natural resources.

10. Original: The hotel staff attends to the needs of their guests.
    Rewrite: The hotel staff ___ the needs of their guests.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. look after
2. looking after
3. look after
4. look after
5. looking after
6. looks after
7. look after
8. look after
9. look after
10. looking after

Sentence Transformation:

1. She looks after her grandmother.
2. The manager looks after the new project.
3. Can you look after my bag for a moment?
4. The charity organization looks after homeless people.
5. It’s my job to look after the garden.
6. Who will look after the guests during the event?
7. The company looks after its employees well.
8. She’s in charge of looking after the new staff members.
9. We need to look after our natural resources.
10. The hotel staff looks after the needs of their guests.

Explanations:
In all these transformations, “look after” replaces synonymous phrases like “take care of,” “be responsible for,” “watch,” “care for,” “maintain,” and “attend to.” This exercise demonstrates the versatility of “look after” in various contexts, from personal responsibilities to professional duties.

7. Memory Tips

To remember “look after,” visualize yourself literally looking at something or someone you’re caring for. This visual connection between “looking” and “caring” can help cement the meaning in your mind.

Create a mnemonic: “LOok After Means Care” (LOAMC). The first letters spell out “LOAM,” which is rich soil that looks after plants, helping them grow.

Associate it with personal experiences: Think of times when you’ve had to look after someone or something, like a pet or a younger sibling. This personal connection can make the phrasal verb more memorable.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Using “look for” instead of “look after”
   Correct: “I’m looking after my neighbor’s cat.” (Not “looking for”)

2. Mistake: Separating the phrasal verb
   Correct: “She looks after her grandchildren.” (Not “She looks her grandchildren after”)

3. Mistake: Using the wrong preposition
   Correct: “Look after” (Not “look over” or “look to” when meaning to care for)

4. Mistake: Overusing in formal writing
   Solution: In very formal contexts, consider alternatives like “care for” or “be responsible for”

To avoid these mistakes, practice using “look after” in various sentences and contexts. Pay attention to its usage in native English content, such as news articles or novels. Regular exposure and practice will help internalize the correct usage.

9. Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like “look after” is crucial for success in the IELTS exam and for overall English proficiency. This versatile expression can enhance your speaking and writing skills, adding nuance and naturalness to your language use. Remember to practice using “look after” in different contexts, and don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your IELTS preparations and everyday English conversations.

By effectively using “look after” and other phrasal verbs, you can demonstrate a higher level of English fluency, potentially boosting your IELTS scores. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself naturally looking after your English language skills with confidence and ease.

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These resources can provide additional context and practice opportunities for using phrasal verbs like “look after” in your IELTS preparation.