Take care of means to look after someone or something. Its second meaning is to deal with a task yourself: I'll take care of the tickets means you will sort out the tickets.
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take care of + person/pet/thing; take care of + task/problem; take care of yourself
- My neighbour takes care of our cat when we travel.
- Don't worry about the hotel booking. I'll take care of it tonight.
- Our assistant takes care of all the paperwork for new clients.
What changed
First versionShe takes care about her little brother after school.
RevisionShe takes care of her little brother after school.
About can seem right here because care about also exists. But after take care you need of: takes care of her little brother. Care about without take is a feeling, not an action: I care about him means he matters to you.
Without of, the expression changes its meaning. Take care! as a goodbye means look after yourself. Take care to + verb means to make sure you do something: Take care to save your work before you close the file.
Your turn
Can you ___ my plants while I'm on holiday? Just water them twice a week.
Show the answer
take care of — The speaker is asking someone to water the plants, that is, to look after them, and that is take care of. Care about means to worry about something or feel that it matters; it describes a feeling, not watering.
Write about how you share household or work tasks with another person. Name one task you take care of and one that the other person takes care of.
At home I take care of the cooking, and my husband takes care of the bills.
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