Looking after people and things

The idea

Use take care of before the person or thing receiving care. The past form is took care of.

Examples

• I take care of my grandmother on Sundays.
• We took care of the plants during the holiday.
• Can you take care of the dog tonight?
• The nurse takes care of patients at night.
• They will take care of the garden this summer.
• Who takes care of the children after school?

Watch out

Do not say take care for when you mean looking after someone.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the missing word. Can you ___ care of our neighbour? (take / make)

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   take

   take follows the modal can in its base form.

2. Choose the missing word. We ___ care of the birds yesterday. (took / take)

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   took

   took places the care in the past.

3. Choose the missing word. She takes care ___ the cat. (of / to)

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   of

   of connects the phrase to the cat.

Use it today

Describe someone or something you look after.