ENGLISH
REFERENCE

care for

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to look after someone who is young, old, or sick; it can also mean that you like something or someone very much.

phr. v.. to provide physical or emotional needs for a dependent person; also used in the negative or interrogative to express a preference or liking (stative sense).


SIMPLE

He spends his weekends caring for his elderly mother.

CONTEXTUAL

The charity provides specialized nurses to care for children with long-term illnesses in their own homes.

COMPLEX

While she did not much care for the cold climate, she remained in the northern provinces to care for the family estate.

Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
care + for + object
Usage

in the sense of 'liking', it is most common in formal offers or negative statements.

Teaching tip

distinguish between the 'provide care' sense (active) and the 'like' sense (stative); the latter is often used politely, such as 'Would you care for some tea?'.

Pitfall

She cares of her little brother.She cares for her little brother.the verb 'care' requires the preposition 'for' when it means looking after someone; 'of' is used with the noun 'take care'.

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