ENGLISH
REFERENCE

look for sb/sth

phr. v..
A1 Beginner Oxford

phr. v.. to try to find someone or something.

phr. v.. to search for or seek a person or object; a transitive phrasal verb indicating an active attempt to locate something.


SIMPLE

I am looking for my keys.

CONTEXTUAL

She went to the library to look for a book about ancient Rome.

COMPLEX

The detective spent weeks looking for a single clue that would finally connect the suspect to the crime scene.

Particles
for
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
look + for + object
Usage

The object is the person or thing you are trying to find.

Teaching tip

Contrast 'look for' (the action of searching) with 'find' (the result of a successful search); learners often confuse the two.

Pitfall

I am looking my keys.I am looking for my keys.The particle 'for' is required to convey the meaning of 'search'.

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