Cool MateI'm going to look after you vs Tend
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I'm going to look after you
Top 2,000 (common)
Tend
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most common: Tend
| I'm going to look after you | Tend | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lʊk ˈɑːftə//🇺🇸 //lʊk ˈæftər// | 🇬🇧 /["/tend/","/tendz/","/ˈtendɪd/","/ˈtendɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tend/","/tendz/","/ˈtendɪd/","/ˈtendɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | I will take care of you. | To take care of something or someone. |
| Example | I'm going to look after you when you're feeling unwell. | She needs to tend to her garden every weekend. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | look after someone, look after children, look after pets, look after yourself, look after the house | carefully, lovingly, to, well-tended |
| Antonyms | - | neglect, ignore |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'look for' which means to search., Using 'look after' without indicating the object. E.g., 'I will look after' is incomplete., Mixing with 'take care of', which has a similar meaning but may sound more formal. | Confused with 'attend' – don't mix them up., 'Tending to' is sometimes mistakenly used as a noun. |
| Usage notes | Used in everyday conversation to express care or responsibility for someone. Suitable in informal and formal settings, but may sound less formal than alternatives like 'provide care'. | This word is often used when discussing habits or regular actions. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in overly casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: I'm going to look after you vs Tend
What's the difference between I'm going to look after you and Tend?
I'm going to look after you: I will take care of you. Tend: To take care of something or someone.
Which is more common: I'm going to look after you and Tend?
Tend is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I'm going to look after you: I'm going to look after you when you're feeling unwell. Tend: She needs to tend to her garden every weekend.
Can I use I'm going to look after you and Tend interchangeably?
Not always. I'm going to look after you and Tend are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.