CARE

 

1. Take care of (someone/something) → Responsibility & Action

• Meaning: To look after or be responsible for someone/something.
• Example: She takes care of her younger brother while their parents work.

2. Care for (someone/something) → Providing help OR liking something

• Meaning 1: To provide help, especially for someone who needs assistance. (similar to "take care of" but more common in medical/nursing contexts)
  • The nurse cares for elderly patients at the hospital.
• Meaning 2: (Less common) To like or have affection for someone/something.
  • I don’t care for spicy food. (= I don’t like it.)

3. Care about (someone/something) → Concern & Emotion

• Meaning: To feel concern or importance about someone/something.
• Example: He cares about the environment and always recycles.

Here’s a mini practice exercise to help reinforce the differences between "take care of," "care for," and "care about":

Fill in the blanks with the correct phrase:

You can write down your answers privately and bring them to class if you want me to check them ☺

(take care of / care for / care about)

1. My parents always told me to ______ my little sister when they were out.
2. She works as a nurse; she ______ patients in the hospital every day.
3. He really ______ his job, so he always gives his best effort.
4. I don’t really ______ horror movies. They’re too scary for me.
5. Volunteers help ______ injured animals at the shelter.
6. It’s important to ______ your mental health by getting enough rest.
7. She doesn’t ______ politics, so she never watches the news.