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A phrasal verb is composed of two (sometimes three) words. This one (look after) is composed of two words in the following order:
- Verb (a word that describes an action, like 'run,' or 'speak.') = look
- Preposition (a word used before a noun, like 'on,' or 'into.') = after
Prepositions go before a noun, that's why they're called pre + positions. We say look after someone or look into the matter, or do without a holiday. Here's something very important: Because the preposition goes before a noun, not after a noun, we say:
- Who'll look after the children? (not look the children after). The noun 'children' cannot come before the preposition 'after.'
- We can do without caviar this week (not do caviar without). The noun 'caviar' cannot come before the preposition 'without.'