Learn English Phrasal Verbs:Take
Take is one of the busiest roots: planes take off, people take on work, and companies take over other companies.
Not sure when the object goes in the middle? Read separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
take after
be similar to a family member
She takes after her mother in looks and habits.
She resembles her mother in looks and habits.
A preposition, so it never splits. She takes after her mother.
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take apart
separate something into its parts
He took apart the printer to find the jam.
He separated the printer into parts to find the jam.
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take away
clear
Please take away the dirty dishes.
Please clear the dirty dishes.
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take back
return
I’ll take back the books tomorrow.
I’ll return the books tomorrow.
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take back
withdraw an earlier statement
He took back the comment after he heard how it sounded.
He withdrew the comment after he heard how it sounded.
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take down
dismantle a structure
They took down the scaffolding last week.
They dismantled the scaffolding last week.
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take down
record something in writing
She took down the address from the board.
She recorded the address from the board in writing.
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take for
mistake someone’s identity
He took her for someone else at the door.
He mistook her for someone else at the door.
Mistake one person or thing for another: take someone for someone else. Keep the first object before for: he took her for a colleague.
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take in
give shelter to
They took in the stray cat during the storm.
They gave shelter to the stray cat during the storm.
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take in
understand and remember information
It was hard to take in all the details in one sitting.
It was hard to absorb all the details in one sitting.
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take off
leave the ground
The plane took off at 7:10.
The plane left the ground at 7:10.
No object in the flight sense, so nothing can go in the middle.
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take off
remove
She took off her jacket when the room got warm.
She removed her jacket when the room got warm.
With clothes it is separable: take your coat off, take it off.
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take on
hire
The shop is taking on extra staff for December.
The shop is hiring extra staff for December.
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take on
accept
He took on the extra shift this weekend.
He accepted the extra shift this weekend.
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take out
go for a meal with someone
He took her out for dinner on Friday.
He went for dinner with her on Friday.
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take out
remove from inside
The dentist took out the damaged tooth.
The dentist removed the damaged tooth.
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take over
gain control of
A larger firm plans to take over the local shop.
A larger firm plans to gain control of the local shop.
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take to
start to like
She quickly took to the new software.
She quickly started to like the new software.
About a first reaction: I took to her immediately.
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take up
start a hobby
I’ve decided to take up swimming on Tuesdays.
I’ve decided to start swimming as a hobby on Tuesdays.
Take up an offer means accept it. Take up a hobby means start it.
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take up
use time or space
The sofa takes up most of the living room.
The sofa occupies most of the living room.
Take up an offer means accept it. Take up a hobby means start it.
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20 meanings of 13 take phrasal verbs at a glance
Separable means the object can sit in the middle, and a pronoun has to. Inseparable means it never can. No object means the verb does not take one. Full explanation here.
| Phrasal verb | Meaning | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| take after | be similar to a family member | Inseparable |
| take apart | separate something into its parts | Separable |
| take away | clear | Separable |
| take back | return | Separable |
| take back | withdraw an earlier statement | Separable |
| take down | dismantle a structure | Separable |
| take down | record something in writing | Separable |
| take for | mistake someone’s identity | Fixed pattern |
| take in | give shelter to | Separable |
| take in | understand and remember information | Separable |
| take off | leave the ground | No object |
| take off | remove | Separable |
| take on | hire | Separable |
| take on | accept | Separable |
| take out | go for a meal with someone | Separable |
| take out | remove from inside | Separable |
| take over | gain control of | Separable |
| take to | start to like | Inseparable |
| take up | start a hobby | Separable |
| take up | use time or space | Separable |
About this set
This page gathers the family so you can see how the particle changes the meaning.
Several verbs appear twice on purpose. Take off, take on and take up are the ones learners ask about most, and English uses the same form for more than one idea.
Usage notes
- take off. Intransitive for a plane. Separable for clothes: take your coat off. A third meaning is become successful.
- take on. Can mean accept work or staff, or fight / compete with. Separable for the work meaning: take the project on.
- take up. Separable. Take up yoga means start it. Take up an offer means accept it, as in the Work set.
- take after. Inseparable. Take after a parent means resemble them. There is no take a parent after.
Mistakes to avoid
Incorrect: The plane took it off at six.
Correct: The plane took off at six.
Take off in the flight sense has no object at all.
Incorrect: She takes her mother after.
Correct: She takes after her mother.
Take after is inseparable, so the person follows the particle.
Incorrect: I took to yoga up last year.
Correct: I took up yoga last year.
Take up is for starting a hobby. Take to is a different verb about liking something.
Incorrect: Please take off them at the door.
Correct: Please take them off at the door.
With clothes take off is separable, so a pronoun must go in the middle.
Common questions
How many meanings of take off should I learn first?
Start with two: a plane leaves the ground, and you remove clothes. The “become successful” meaning can wait until those two feel automatic.
Is take over the same as take on?
Take over means assume control of a company, job, or task from someone else. Take on means accept extra work or hire someone. A firm can take on staff and later take over a rival.