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:

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1. Look up to someone a. Take care of (a baby, plant)
2. Look for b. Try to find
3. Look through a newspaper c. Try to find a telephone number in a book
4. Look up a telephone number d. Investigate
5. Look at (possibilities) e. Wait with anticipation (Christmas)
6. Look out for f. Go and see before something (buying it)
7. Look over (a report, plumbing) g. Read quickly for the main points
8. Look into h. Keep a careful watch for
9. Look forward to i. Value someone’s opinions (especially
10. Look after someone older)
j. Look at and check to see if it is okay

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 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. 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?

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. I told the boss about the problem. She said she would _______ it when she had time.
…………………….
2. If we go to the cinema, maybe Frank could _______ the children for a few hours.
……………………..
3. If you __________ this picture very hard, you can actually see that it is a copy.
……………………..
4. Uncle Gerry was someone I always ____________ . He always had such good advice.
……………………..
5. 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.
……………………..

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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.
………………