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If you're learning English, phrasal verbs can be extremely confusing and challenging. So, what are they? Put simply, a phrasal verb is when a short word (like "at" or "up") comes after a verb and changes its meaning.
Probably it will make more sense to you if you see one in context.
What's the difference between these sentences?
Don't look at the sun.
Please look after my children this weekend.
"Look at" means literally look. In other words, your eyes are looking towards the sun.
Photo by Rajiv Bajaj on Unsplash"Look after", though, means to make sure the children have food, water, are safe, etc. It doesn't mean "look"!
Photo by Annie Spratt on UnsplashLearn how to use the word "look" in creative and useful ways!
Look Up
Many phrasal verbs mean the same thing as a single-word verb.
"Look up" is like this. There's one word that you might already know that means the same thing as "look up." Can you guess it from these sentences?
Before I can start writing this essay, I need to look up some facts about Napoleon.
Wikipedia is a great tool for looking things up without needing to go to a library.
I used to think that Tom Cruise was in that movie, but I looked it up and he wasn't.
Photo by Giammarco Boscaro on UnsplashThat's right! Research is one word that means the same thing as look up.
If you don't know the meaning of a phrasal verb, try to think if there's a single word you do know that means the same thing.
Quiz
Which of these sentences makes sense?
"Look up" means "research." It doesn't mean actually looking upwards. (The rest of the sentences make sense if you say "look up at").
Look Up To
Just like "look" and "look up" don't mean the same thing, "look up" and "look up to" don't mean the same thing either.
What is one word that means the same thing as "look up to"?
I've always looked up to Martin Luther King Jr. because of his civil rights work.
Many people look up to Mother Teresa because she helped the poor.
If you're a soccer player, you probably look up to Lionel Messi.
Photo by Tim Bernhard on UnsplashAdmire and respect are single words that mean the same thing as look up to.
Quiz
Which of these sentences makes sense?
"Look up to" means respect or admire. It doesn't mean the same thing as "look" or "look at." In other words, it means to respect/admire, not to research or to look.
Did you know?
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Other Phrasal Verbs with "Look"
There are dozens of phrasal verbs with "look" in English. It's impossible to learn all of them right away, but try to start recognizing what they look like.
Use this list of phrasal verbs and try to understand the following conversation:
Matt: Hey Jane, would you mind looking after my kids this Saturday evening? My partner and I will be going to a concert.
Jim: Oh, I'd love to. I'm surprised you wouldn't ask your sister, though. She's great with kids.
Matt: Well, my sister always looks down on me when I ask that kind of thing. She never needs help with her kids.
Jim: I understand. Thanks for asking me! I love your kids. I'm looking forward to this Saturday.
Photo by Vitolda Klein on UnsplashQuiz
Why didn't Matt ask his sister for help?
Matt said that she "looks down on" him for asking for help. In other words, she "disrespects" him if he asks for help with his kids.
Take Action
To really learn these phrasal verbs, you need to start using them in context. Start now!
You can start looking forward to being able to communicate clearly and easily with these phrasal verbs.
Photo by Brooke Cagle on UnsplashThis Byte has been authored by
Sam Whittaker
English Teacher