Uncle Bob goes flat hunting
Phrasal verbs with Look
I really admire my Uncle Bob, I’ve always looked up to him as someone I can go for advice.
What is nice that now and then he comes to me. My Uncle Bob is looking for a new flat. He
spent the weekend looking through the newspapers trying to find something in his price
range. He decided he needed some advice so he looked up my phone number in his address
book and gave me a ring. The next day we spent the afternoon looking at some possibilities
on the outskirts of San Sebastian, in a suburb called Renteria. He was looking for a bargain
but I told him to look out for flats which needed a lot of work. doing. In every flat we looked
over the electrics and the plumbing. All the flats we saw were quite pricey so we looked into
the possibility of getting a mortgage from the bank. In the end we managed to find the perfect
flat and Uncle Bob is really looking forward to moving in. It was pricey but I think Uncle Bob´ll
look after it well.
Exercise 1. Match the phrasal verbs with the definition:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Look up to someone
Look for
Look through a newspaper
Look up a telephone number
Look at (possibilities)
Look out for
Look over (a report, plumbing)
Look into
Look forward to
Look after
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Take care of (a baby, plant)
Try to find
Try to find a telephone number in a book
Investigate
Wait with anticipation (Christmas)
Go and see before something (buying it)
Read quickly for the main points
Keep a careful watch for
Value someone’s opinions (especially someone
older)
Look at and check to see if it is okay
Exercise 2. Read through the story with a partner and see if you can remember
which verbs go in each gap.
I really admire my Uncle Bob, I’ve always ____________ him as someone I can go for advice. What is
nice that now and then he comes to me. My Uncle Bob is ________ a new flat. He spent the weekend
________ the newspapers trying to find something in his price range. He decided he needed some
advice so he ________ my phone number in his address book and gave me a ring. The next day we
spent the afternoon __________ some possibilities on the outskirts of San Sebastian, in a suburb called
Renteria. He was looking for a bargain but I told him to ________ flats which needed a lot of work.
doing. In every flat we _______ the electrics and the plumbing. All the flats we saw were quite pricey so
we ________ the possibility of getting a mortgage from the bank. In the end we managed to find the
perfect flat and Uncle Bob is really ___________ moving in. It was pricey but I think Uncle Bob´ll
_____________ it well.
Exercise 3. In pairs, ask each other these questions. You must use the phrasal verbs in your
answer, and you must both answer the question.
1. Who do you look up to?
2. Do you like to look through a newspaper or magazine before reading it, or do you just start
on page one and go through it?
3. If you have to look up a telephone number, where do you look?
4. What typical mistakes should students look out for when checking a written composition?
5. What are looking forward to? Holidays, Christmas,?
6. Have you ever or do you often have to look after a child or animal for someone?
Dominic Streames
efltheatreclub.co.uk
© 2011
1
Exercise 4. Add the correct phrasal verb in the correct form, to the following examples. Be careful to add any
pronouns where necessary. Write the answer in the margin only so you can reuse this exercise again and again.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I told the boss about the problem. She said she would _______ it when she had time.
If we go to the cinema, maybe Frank could _______ the children for a few hours.
If you __________ this picture very hard, you can actually see that it is a copy.
Uncle Gerry was someone I always ____________ . He always had such good advice.
After a series of local burglaries, the police are asking the public to _____ for any suspicious
people in their neighbourhood.
6. If you want the information I can ___________ on the computer in no time.
7. “Did you get a chance to __________________ that book I lent you? I think you’ll like it.”
8. I’m ___________________ the holiday. Two weeks in Greece, I can’t wait!
9. “Can I help you?” “Yes, I’m __________________ a summer dress."
10. I ______________________ the wallet everywhere but I couldn’t find it.
…………………….
……………………..
……………………..
……………………..
……………………..
……………………..
……………………..
……………………..
……………………..
………………
Exercise 5. Key word sentence transformations
Rewrite the first sentence so that it means the same as the first sentence, using the key word. You must not change
the key word in any way.
Example:
Angela started to smoke when she was twelve.
took
Angela
Answer:
Angela took up smoking when she was twelve.
1. When you buy things in a market, you have to be careful of cheap imitations
look
When you buy something in a market you _____________________________________
2. My boss checked the plans but seemed to think they were ok.
looked
My boss ________________________________________________________________
3. A man has claimed that his boss assaulted him. The police are investigating it.
looking
A man has claimed that his boss assaulted him. The police ________________________
4. Although I respected my father, it was my uncle who I really admired.
looked
Although I respected my father, it was _________________________________________
5. If you don’t know the telephone number, you could try to find it in his address book.
look
If you don’t know the telephone number, _______ ________________________________
6. The neighbours have said they would take care of the dog while we are away.
look
The neighbours ____________________________________________________________
7. I read the catalogue quickly but I didn’t see anything that caught my eye.
looked
I ________________________________________________________________________
8. I’m really excited about seeing her after all this time.
looking
I’m ______________________________________________________________________
Dominic Streames
efltheatreclub.co.uk
© 2011
2