care for

look after someone who is ill, old, or very young

B1

What does "care for sb" mean?

To care for someone means to look after them in a sustained, hands-on way — providing help with daily needs like eating, moving around, taking medicine, and staying comfortable. This phrasal verb is especially used when someone takes on an ongoing responsibility for a person who cannot fully look after themselves, such as an elderly parent, a sick relative, or a very young child. It suggests real dedication and effort, often over a long period of time. You will hear it in everyday conversations about family responsibilities, and also in more formal contexts like hospitals, care plans, and social services. It is different from a quick or casual favour — 'care for' implies that this is a serious, lasting role.

Examples

How to use it

care for + person

The most common pattern — the person being looked after always comes directly after 'for'.

She left her job to care for her elderly father.

care for + pronoun

Pronouns also follow 'for' and cannot be moved to any other position in the sentence.

His grandmother was very ill, so he moved back home to care for her.

be cared for (passive)

The passive is very natural, especially when the focus is on the person receiving care rather than the person providing it.

The patients are cared for by a skilled team of nurses and volunteers.

give up [something] to care for + person

This is a very common structure used when someone sacrifices their job or another commitment to take on a caregiving role.

She gave up her studies to care for her younger siblings.

well/poorly cared for

The past participle form with 'well' or 'poorly' is widely used to describe the quality of care someone receives.

Everyone at the hospice was well cared for and treated with great kindness.

Common Collocations

elderly parentsa sick relativeyoung childrenpatientsa loved onea disabled person

Common Mistakes

Trying to separate the phrasal verb

Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'care for' cannot be separated — the object must always come after 'for', never between 'care' and 'for'.

✗ She cares her elderly mother for every day.
✓ She cares for her elderly mother every day.
Confusing the two meanings of 'care for'

'Care for' has a second, different meaning — it can mean 'like' something (as in 'I don't care for loud music'). When the object is a vulnerable person and the idea is about ongoing support, it means 'look after'; when the object is food, a hobby, or something similar, it means 'like'. Context usually makes this clear.

Using 'take care of' and 'care for' as if they are always the same

'Take care of' is more general and works with tasks, objects, and people, while 'care for' is more specifically used for sustained, personal caregiving of vulnerable people. In formal or medical contexts especially, 'care for' is the more natural choice.

✗ The nurses take care of the residents with great skill. (not wrong, but 'care for the residents' sounds more natural in a care context)
✓ The nurses care for the residents with great skill.

Usage

'Care for' in this sense is neutral and can be used in both everyday conversation and formal writing such as medical or social care contexts. It suggests sustained, devoted caregiving and is often used when someone has given up time or work to look after a vulnerable person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'care for' be used for animals or pets?

Informally, yes — you might hear someone say 'I care for my cat when she's sick', and it will be understood. However, in more formal or written contexts, 'care for' is most strongly associated with people, particularly the ill, elderly, or very young. For animals, 'look after' or 'take care of' tend to sound more natural.

Does 'care for' suggest a professional role, or can family members use it too?

Both. 'Care for' is used equally for professional caregivers — such as nurses and social workers — and for family members who look after a relative at home. The key idea is sustained responsibility and real effort, not whether the person is paid.

Can I use 'care for' in formal writing, like reports or official documents?

Yes, 'care for' is perfectly suitable in formal writing. It appears regularly in medical reports, social care plans, journalism, and official documents. It is one of the few phrasal verbs that feels equally comfortable in both everyday conversation and formal contexts.

Is 'being cared for' a natural way to describe someone who is receiving care?

Yes, the passive form is very natural with this phrasal verb. Phrases like 'well cared for', 'being cared for at home', and 'cared for by professionals' are all common and widely used in both spoken and written English.

Can I use 'care for' to talk about a short period, like looking after a child for one afternoon?

It's possible, but 'care for' most naturally suggests an ongoing responsibility lasting weeks, months, or years. For a brief or one-off situation, 'look after' is usually the more natural choice — for example, 'Can you look after my son this afternoon?' sounds more typical than 'care for'.

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