Thread: Looking for language exchange

Originally Posted by kgcole

If you used "looked up", you would have had to say what you looked up, such as "I could have looked up some art before answering...". Saying "researched" didn't require more information, though I would say that I think the best solution to that sentence would have been, "I could have looked up some art...". It's more familiar for our level of conversation, and friendly, I think. Sort of a matter of tone.

You mean using "look up" without the direct object is incorrect? I'm always supposed to mention what I want to look for?

Originally Posted by Helenej

You mean using "look up" without the direct object is incorrect? I'm always supposed to mention what I want to look for?

That's correct. But remember, it's in the past tense, so you'd say "...looked up some art.." in that case, not "...I could have look up some art...".