Cool MateLook after my kids vs Supervise
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Look after my kids
Top 2,000 (common)
Supervise
Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
| Look after my kids | Supervise | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lʊk ˈɑːftər maɪ kɪdz//🇺🇸 //lʊk ˈæftər maɪ kɪdz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsuːpəvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpəvaɪzɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsuːpərvaɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪz/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzd/","/ˈsuːpərvaɪzɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Take care of my children | To watch over and manage people or activities. |
| Example | Can you look after my kids while I go grocery shopping? | to supervise building work |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | look after someone, look after children, look after pets, look after the elderly, look after a friend | carefully, closely, directly, appoint somebody to, be responsible for supervising something |
| Antonyms | - | neglect, ignore |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'look for' – 'look after' means caring, while 'look for' means searching., Using 'look after' in formal writing can seem too casual., Omitting 'my' can change the meaning to looking after someone else's kids. | Confused with 'supervisor' - remember 'supervise' is the action, while 'supervisor' is the person., Using 'supervise' in informal contexts where 'help' or 'watch' would be better., Omitting the object - 'supervise' should always have something that is being supervised. |
| Usage notes | Use 'look after' when you mean to take care of someone, typically in informal situations. Not suitable for very formal contexts. | Used in professional or educational contexts. Avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler terms like 'watch' may be more appropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Look after my kids vs Supervise
What's the difference between Look after my kids and Supervise?
Look after my kids: Take care of my children Supervise: To watch over and manage people or activities.
Can you show an example of each?
Look after my kids: Can you look after my kids while I go grocery shopping? Supervise: to supervise building work
Can I use Look after my kids and Supervise interchangeably?
Not always. Look after my kids and Supervise 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.