Comprehensive Guide to English Phrasal Verbs with “Look”
Phrasal verbs are an essential part of English, and those with the verb “look” are particularly common. Understanding their meanings and usage can significantly improve your fluency. Below is a detailed breakdown of phrasal verbs with “look,” including definitions, examples, and exercises.
Common Phrasal Verbs with “Look”
- Look after – To take care of someone or something.
- Look up – To search for information or improve.
- Look into – To investigate or examine.
- Look forward to – To anticipate something with pleasure.
- Look out – To be careful or warn someone of danger.
- Look down on – To regard someone with contempt.
- Look up to – To admire or respect someone.
- Look over – To examine or review something quickly.
- Look through – To read or examine something briefly.
- Look back – To reflect on the past.
Detailed Explanations and Examples
1. Look after
Meaning: To take care of someone or something.
Example: “Can you look after my dog while I’m on vacation?”
2. Look up
Meaning: To search for information (often in a dictionary or online) or to improve (in terms of conditions).
Examples:
- “I need to look up the meaning of this word.”
- “Things are starting to look up for his business.”
3. Look into
Meaning: To investigate or examine something.
Example: “The police will look into the case.”
4. Look forward to
Meaning: To anticipate something with excitement.
Example: “I’m looking forward to my birthday party!”
5. Look out
Meaning: To be cautious or warn someone of danger.
Example: “Look out! There’s a car coming!”
6. Look down on
Meaning: To regard someone as inferior.
Example: “She looks down on people who don’t have a college degree.”
7. Look up to
Meaning: To admire or respect someone.
Example: “Many students look up to their teachers.”
8. Look over
Meaning: To review or examine something quickly.
Example: “Please look over this report before the meeting.”
9. Look through
Meaning: To read or examine something briefly.
Example: “She looked through the magazine while waiting.”
10. Look back
Meaning: To reflect on past events.
Example: “When I look back on my childhood, I feel nostalgic.”
Exercises to Practice
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences with the correct phrasal verb from the list above.
- She always ___ her little brother when their parents are away. (look after)
- I need to ___ the train schedule online. (look up)
- The manager promised to ___ the complaint. (look into)
- We are ___ our summer vacation. (looking forward to)
- ___! There’s a hole in the ground. (Look out)
Exercise 2: Match the Phrasal Verb with Its Meaning
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Look down on | To regard someone as inferior |
| Look up to | To admire someone |
| Look over | To review quickly |
| Look back | To reflect on the past |
Tips for Mastering Phrasal Verbs
- Practice regularly – Use them in sentences daily.
- Read and listen – Exposure helps in understanding context.
- Keep a notebook – Write down new phrasal verbs with examples.
By mastering these phrasal verbs, you’ll enhance your English fluency and comprehension. Keep practicing, and soon they’ll become second nature!