Lesson 22
Introduction
This tutorial is focusing on phrasal verbs with the verb to look. Look out!, look into, look around and many more.
Dialogue
1/Sentence Practice
The Indian meal
Well Peter, have you decided what we are going to eat or are you still looking at the menu?
I am looking around at the other tables and the Chicken Vindaloo seems popular.
I am looking into what is a good side dish. It must be difficult for foreigners to understand phrasal verbs.
We use them such a lot. It is simple to use a verb like look and add a preposition like for.
You have the word you need. Look at means to direct your eyes towards.
Look into means investigate. The English language is full of phrasal verbs.
There are no hard and fast rules. You just have to learn them. You Americans invent new ones all the time.
It’s true! Remember Breaking Bad, a verb plus a preposition which makes no sense.
No one had ever heard that one before. It was an expression only ever used in the town where the writer of the series lives.
Anyway, you have to go with the flow and just learn them off by heart.
Shall I order? Yes please, I am starving. I hope that the food arrives very quickly.
Vocabulary
2/Vocabulary Practice
- to decide
- to eat out
- to look at
- the menu
- to look around
- the other tables
- Chicken Vindaloo
- popular
- to look into
- side dish.
- It must be difficult
- foreigner/foreigners
- to understand
- phrasal verbs
- such a lot
- It is simple
- to use
- a verb
- to look
- to add
- a preposition
- the word
- to look at
- to direct
- towards
- to investigate
- hard and fast rule
- Americans
- to invent
- all the time
- It’s true!
- Breaking Bad
- to make no sense
- to hear of
- an expression
- the writer
- to go with the flow
- to learn off by heart
- Shall I order?
- I am starving.
Grammar
Phrasal verbs
Phrasal verbs are idiomatic phrases which consist of a verb and another element, either an adverb or a preposition.
The combination of both create a new unit of meaning, called a phrasal verb.
Example: To move + out. The meaning is not easy to deduct!
to move out = to leave one’s place of residence
Here are some of the most commonly used phrasal verbs with “look”:
- to look after = to take care of, i.e. I’m looking after my nephews this afternoon. – Would you mind looking after my cat this weekend?
- to look at = to direct one’s gaze in a specified direction, to watch, i.e. Why are they looking at me? – Look at that eagle!
- to look away = to direct one’s gaze in a different direction, i.e. I prefer to look away than to see this horror film. – I looked away from my book when I heard him come in.
- to look back on = to remember, to reminisce, i.e. He likes to look back on his days as a pilot. – Looking back on my days as a teacher I feel fulfilled.
- to look for = to search for = to seek, i.e. The police are looking for 2 suspects. – The fox was looking for food in the bins.
- to look forward to = to await with pleasure, to anticipate, i.e. I look forward to our picnic! – I am looking forward to meeting them all!
- to look into = to investigate, to explore, i.e. I’ll look into it and let you know. – Looking into the case I found some interesting new clues.
- to look out = to keep watch = to be observant, i.e. Look out for snakes! They are coming out of hibernation. – Look out! There’s a car coming!
- to look over = to review, to examine, i.e. I looked over your essay and have some suggestions. – I had a quick look over the newspaper while I was on the tube.
- to look through = to review, to read through, i.e. I only looked through the first two pages. – I looked through many books before choosing this one for you.
- to look (something) up = to search in the dictionary, i.e. I’ll have to look that word up! – Look it up if you are not sure.
- to look down on = to disdain, to regard with contempt, i.e. She was always looking down on her peers. – She looks down on her husband’s cooking.
- to look up to (someone) = to admire, i.e. He has always looked up to his father. – She has always looked up to her.
Phrasal verbs are easier to learn with a synonym or a definition as well as a translation and practice.
Questions and Answers
Questions and Answers
Will you look after my dog this weekend?
No I won’t, I am going away.
Are you looking forward to the weekend?
Yes, I am looking forward to it.
Did you look at the television this morning?
No, I did not look at the television this morning.
Will you look into the prices of hotels?
Yes I will and I will let you know.
Will you look at this work for me please?
Yes, I will look it up immediately.
Do you look back on your holidays with joy?
Yes, I look back on them with joy.
Will you look out for a taxi please?
Yes, I will look out for one now.
Why do you look down on Brighton supporters?
I don’t know why I look down on Brighton supporters.
Why do you look away when I ask you a question?
I don’t think I look away when you ask me a question.
Are you looking forward to the game on Saturday?
No, there is no game on Saturday, it is on Sunday.