care for vs care about (Murphy Unit 133, Verb + preposition 2)
Pattern
Section titled “Pattern”-
care for = like (usually in the negative: don’t care for X = don’t like X)
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care about = be concerned / affected by
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I don’t care for the colour. = I don’t like it ✓
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I don’t care about the colour. = the colour doesn’t matter to me (indifference)
The two meanings
Section titled “The two meanings”| care for | care about | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | like (dislike in negative) | be concerned about |
| Register | often negative, slightly formal | common |
| Example | I don’t care for spicy food. | I care about the environment. |
| Indonesian | suka (dislike in neg) | peduli |
Context clue: “I don’t like this coat” → the second clause repeats the dislike → don’t care for (don’t like). “Don’t care about” = indifference, not dislike.
Other “care” phrases
Section titled “Other “care” phrases”| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| care for | like / look after | I don’t care for tea. / She cares for her mother. |
| care about | be concerned | He cares about the planet. |
| care of (c/o) | mail addressing | Send it care of my office. |
| take care of | look after / handle | Take care of yourself. |
| couldn’t care less | total indifference | I couldn’t care less. |
Test application
Section titled “Test application”I don’t like this coat. I don’t care ___ the colour.
Answer: for — don’t care for the colour = don’t like it (echoes “don’t like this coat”).
Why not the others?
- of ✗ — “care of” = c/o (mail), not a like/dislike phrase
- about ✗ — “don’t care about” = indifference, but the context is dislike
- for ✓ — don’t like
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use (4th ed.), Unit 133 — Verb + preposition 2. Ebot lesson 2026-08-29: “I don’t care ___ the colour” → for (don’t like vs don’t care about = indifference).