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Separable Object can go in the middle or after: "look it over" or "look over the document"
Inseparable Object always goes after the particle: "look after the children" — never "look the children after"
Intransitive No object needed: "Look out!"
Phrasal verbs with LOOK
look upSeparable
To search for information in a book, dictionary, or online.
"I looked up the word in the dictionary and finally understood it."
look afterInseparable
To take care of someone or something; to be responsible for.
"Can you look after my dog while I'm on vacation?"
look forInseparable
To search for something or someone.
"I've been looking for my keys all morning."
look forward toInseparable
To feel excited and positive about something that will happen in the future. Always followed by a noun or gerund (-ing).
"I'm looking forward to seeing you next week." ✓ (NOT "to see")
look outIntransitive
To be careful or watch for danger; to pay attention to a potential hazard.
"Look out! There's a car coming!"
look intoInseparable
To investigate or research a topic, problem, or situation more carefully.
"The manager is looking into the cause of the delay."
look backIntransitive
To think about or reflect on the past.
"Looking back, I realize how much I've grown over the years."
look up toInseparable
To admire or respect someone, especially an older or more experienced person.
"Students look up to teachers who are passionate and fair."
look down onInseparable
To consider someone inferior; to treat someone with disrespect or contempt.
"Good leaders never look down on their team members."
look overSeparable
To review or check something quickly to find errors or to understand it.
"Can you look over my report before I send it?"
⚠️ "Look forward to" must be followed by a gerund (-ing), NOT a bare infinitive!
✓ "I look forward to seeing you." — correct (gerund)
✗ "I look forward to see you." — WRONG (bare infinitive)
The word "to" here is a preposition (not part of an infinitive), so it must be followed by a noun or gerund.
Reading: Sofia Looks Forward
📖 Sofia Looks Forward
Sofia had always looked up to her aunt Marcela, a successful engineer in Heredia. As a child, Sofia would look up the meaning of every technical word she didn't understand. That curiosity never left her.
After graduating, Sofia spent weeks looking for her first real job. She decided to look into a technology startup in San José that had recently been in the news. The company seemed promising and innovative.
Before sending her application, she asked her aunt to look over her resume and cover letter. "Always look out for grammar mistakes," her aunt warned. "First impressions matter more than people realize."
The night before her interview, Sofia found herself looking back on how far she had come — from a small town in Guanacaste to a job interview in the capital. She was nervous, but she was also looking forward to the challenge.
She spent that afternoon looking after her younger sister, helping with homework — a good distraction. At the interview, the manager never looked down on Sofia for her lack of experience. He respected her enthusiasm and drive. Two weeks later, she got the job.
Reading comprehension — 10 questions
