The use of the verb take in English. What kind of verb is this - take
In order to use the meaning "to take" in a sentence, it is customary to use the verb take. However, this word, like some other actions, is far from the only meaning. The ability to use it as a phrasal verb necessitates the study of all possible constructions with this structure. In addition, this is an irregular verb, and therefore it is necessary to remember that the form of a particular tense can be expressed in different ways. It has quite a few features, and each of them deserves special attention.
Main characteristics of the verb
Sentences with this verb in English language often convey the meaning of accepting something, since the standard translation of this lexical unit is “take, take”. But, as already mentioned, the possibilities of this verb make it possible to use it as a phrasal. Different prepositions help to form different take expressions, which usually have completely different meanings, and their use helps to convey a lot of new shades:
- You should take care of yourself not to get into troubles again; otherwise, we will take away your sisterYou should take care of yourself so you don't get into trouble again or we'll take your sister.
- I know people who prefer to take up legal business; if you want to rent a car at this place, you take a chance to some extent– I know people who prefer to do legal business; if you want to rent a car in this place, you are at some risk
There are no special rules and principles for the pronunciation of take. This structure is pronounced in the same way in the classic British version of the language, and in the more modern American one. The transcription in this case looks like .
In addition to the features described above, the verb is irregular. Therefore, 3 forms of the verb will not be formed according to the standard rules, that is, without adding the ending -ed, but by changing the very structure of the word. Therefore, there are also certain nuances here.
Temporal verb forms
It is not a regular verb, respectively, its forms will have non-standard look, that is, without the ending -ed, since the structure of the word will change. 3 forms take displays a table of irregular verbs, where it looks like this: take - took - taken.
So, the second form is needed in order to express the situation in Past Indefinite. The past tense is formed using took:
- I couldn't’ t take my eyes off because she took her baby to the meetingI couldn't take my eyes off her because she took her baby to the meeting.
- The doctor asked me to take off my clothes and lie down on the sofa; I took the money and hide it in one of the pockets -Doctor said to me undress And go to bed on sofa; I took money And hid their V one from pockets
For 3 forms take verb characteristic is the use in perfect constructions necessary in order to show perfection:
- take it easy; he has just taken off his clothes and left- Do not take it to heart; he just took his clothes and left
- It takes me too long to get to work! have you already taken any measures regarding this issue? It takes me too long to get to work! Have you already taken any action regarding this issue?
Apart from this, a long form is also possible with this action word. It looks quite ordinary: the ending -ing is added to the structure:
- Are you going to take part in this competition? - No, I'm taking away my child from the kindergarten in half an hour –You gonna accept participation V this competition? No, through half an hour I pick up child from children's garden
- The release of a new game is likely to take place on Monday, isn't it? – Yes, I'm taking my money out of the piggy bank right now in order to count it –Exit new games probably happen V Monday, Yes? – Yes, I directly Now take out money from sway piggy banks, to count their
In the meaning of Phrasal verb
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, take is very often part of various set expressions and is a vivid example of a phrasal verb, since this lexical unit can be used with prepositions different type, thereby forming new and sometimes unusual values. Among the popular phrases of this kind are the following:
All this mass of meanings is necessary in order to express different shades of emotions and adapt speech to certain conversational situations. For better memorization, you can periodically perform exercises for training phrasal verbs so that all these constructions are better remembered. In addition, the use of such expressions in a personal conversation will let a person understand that his interlocutor is educated, is able to actively apply set phrases in practice and is not at all afraid of them.
Let's look at the most popular phrasal verbs with take that are used in everyday speech today. The verb take in English learns one of the first. Everyone knows perfectly well that it translates as "to take." But do you know how the meaning of take changes in sentences depending on which preposition comes after it?
Take after somebody
To talk about similarity, we can use the words resemble, similar, like. But when it comes to similarities with parents in behavior or appearance, it is most appropriate to use the phrasal verb take after.
Example:
They always say that I take after my dad.
They always tell me that I look like my father.
Be taken back
Looking for a synonym for the word shocked? To be taken back is perfect for this. As you already understood, this phrasal verb means "to be shocked."
Example:
I'm still taken back by what happened.
I'm still in shock over what happened.
take away
This phrasal verb has several meanings, so you should always be attentive to the context.
How many peaches would you have if you had five peaches and someone took away three of them?
How many peaches would you have left if you had five and someone took three of them.
The second meaning is to take something away from someone.
It's like taking away the baby's candy.
It's like taking candy from a child.
Take away also means buying takeaway food.
A sandwich and a large coke to take away, please.
Sandwich and a large cola to go, please.
Take away from something
Reduce the value of something.
He seems to be a smart guy, but the fact that he doesn't have a master degree takes away from his advantages over other candidates for this position.
He seems to be a smart guy, but the fact that he doesn't have a master's degree makes him a little less competitive than other candidates.
take something back
It happens that you blurt out something without thinking, and you really want to take your words back take back your words.
Well, sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'll take it back. You don't look fat in this dress.
Okay, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I take back my words. You don't look fat in this dress.
take something apart
Take apart.
Your keyboard looks really dirty, try taking it apart to clean.
Your keyboard looks dirty, try taking it apart to clean it.
take down
Has three meanings. The first is to remove something. Sometimes used in relation to a person
Just take down the picture to see the hole in the wall that was left by the former owner.
Just remove the painting to see the hole in the wall left by the previous owner.
The second is to write something down.
I should take down your personal details before you visit the doctor.
Before you go to the doctor, I must write down your personal details.
Third, destroy.
Are you sure you have taken down all pieces of evidence?
Are you sure you destroyed all the evidence?
Take for something
Take something for something.
Example:
— Do you really take me for an idiot?
Do you really take me for an idiot?
— I won't take no for an answer.
I won't take no for an answer.
take in
Another phrasal verb with many meanings.
Take in can mean "to take someone in."
When I was going to the shop, I saw a pretty puppy. I decided to take the puppy in, so now she lives with us.
When I went to the store, I saw a cute puppy. I decided to take the puppy, now she lives with us.
Understand, absorb, capture some information.
I took in every word the teacher said. It was a really interesting lesson.
I understood every word the teacher said. It was an incredibly interesting lesson.
Tighten / hem clothes so that they sit on the figure.
I like this coat, but I need to take in it at the waist.
I like this coat, but it needs to be sutured a little at the waist.
Also, take in can be a synonym for the word deceive - to deceive.
Do you really consider me as a person who can be taken in easily?
Do you really consider me a person who can be easily fooled?
take off
The first meaning in which this phrasal verb is used most often is to take off clothes/shoes.
Take off your shoes, they got wet.
Take off your shoes, they got wet.
Get your hair cut at the barber.
Can you take off just a little at the back?
Can you cut the back a little?
take off (about an airplane)
What time does the plain take off?
What time does this plane take off?
Leave somewhere.
I can let you go to the party, if you promise me that you take off at 11.
I can let you go to the party if you promise to leave at 11.
Becomes successful.
His career took off after he'd learned English quite well.
His career took off as soon as he learned English well enough.
take on
Accept a job or accept some kind of responsibility.
Well, I can take this task.
Okay, I can take this job.
The second meaning is to hire someone to work.
What do you think about Lissa, should we take her on?
What do you think about Lissa, should we hire her?
take over
Take control of something.
My company was broke, so an international firm took over it several months ago.
My company was broke, so an international firm took control of it.
take out
Invite someone to go somewhere (take someone with you to an event / cafe / cinema, etc.).
John is taken out to the theater.
John is taking me to the theater tonight.
Get some kind of service.
I had to take out a loan to open my first shop.
I had to get a loan to open my first shop.
Withdraw money from a bank account.
Do you know where the nearest cash machine is? I need to take out some money.
Do you know where the nearest ATM is? I need to withdraw money.
Remove someone (meaning to kill).
The cop was taken out by Mafioso.
The cop was killed by a mobster.
Take (it) out on somebody
To spoil someone's mood, simply because it is bad for you.
I try to avoid people who take out on others.
I try to avoid people who dump their bad mood on others.
Take somebody through something
Explain something in detail.
Do you understand this topic? Or should I take you through it?
Do you understand this topic? Or should I explain it to you in detail?
Take to
Start loving something.
I didn't like the jeans my sister gave me, but now I take to them.
I didn't like the jeans my sister gave me. But now I'm starting to love them.
Get used to something (after comes the gerund).
I'm taking to waking up early.
I'm getting used to getting up early.
take up
Start doing something new (sports, hobbies)
I'm thinking of taking up yoga class.
I'm thinking about starting yoga classes.
Take up space or time
Sorry, I can't go to a gym with you, English lessons take up all my free time.
I'm sorry, I can't go to the gym with you, English lessons take up all my free time.
start again
We took up where we had left off.
We started where we left off.
We hope you found the article useful and found useful phrasal verbs with take for you to learn. Be sure to come up with your own examples of their use for quick memorization.
We continue to study English in all its facets: vocabulary, grammar, syntax, etc. And today we will repeat the forms of words we already know go, make, get, show, eat, play, ride, fall, meet, and also we will analyze another very important lexeme for everyday English speech. Take (take, take) is one of the most common verbs in the English language. This is an irregular verb, so it will be useful to recall its forms:
- To take-took-taken-taking
Consider sample sentences for each form:
- What shall I take with me? — What should I take with myself?
- Did you take all the necessary things? Yes, I took everything we need. - You took all the necessary things? Yes, I took everything we need
- Ann said that she had taken her mobile phone with her. Anna said that she took mobile phone with myself
- Where are the children? Tom is taking care of them. - Where are children? Volume cares about them.
Often this verb occurs not only by itself, but also in set expressions, such as: Take…
- a sit - sit down, sit down, take a seat
- a word - take a word
- off / on - take off / put on
- care - take care
- down - knock down, shoot
- a bus/a train/a car, etc. - take a bus, train, car, etc.
- measures - take action
- a shower - take a shower
For example:
Take your sit, please! - Sit down please!
I want to take a shower. - I want to take a shower.
Tom must take measures about his son. Tom must take action about his son.
Take and verb tenses
We bring to your attention a few examples of sentences where we use our verb in different tenses:
Present Simple: Take your sit, please, and listen to me. - Sit down, please, and listen to me.
Present Perfect: Tom has just taken the important papers. — Tom just picked up some important papers.
Present continuous: Where is Andy? He is taking a shower now, can you call later? - Where's Andy? He's taking a shower now, can you call later?
past simple: I took some flour, milk, and eggs, and prepared a cake. I took some flour, milk and eggs and made a pie
Past Continuous: I was taking a shower when you called. I was taking a shower when you called
Past perfect: She said that she had taken all the measures about that affair. — She said she took all measures about that case.
Future Simple: Tomorrow we will take you with us to the forest if you want. “Tomorrow we will take you into the woods with us, if you like.
Take and modal verbs
The irregular Take goes well with the modal verbs may, must, can, need, should, etc.
For example:
- May I take your pencil? — May I have your pencil?
- You must take measures about your son, he behaves very badly. You must take action about your son, he is behaving very badly.
- Can you take me with you to walk? Can you take me for a walk with you?
- We need to take some money with us for our voyage. We should take some money with us on the trip.
- You should take a bus, if you want to get to the airport on time. You must take a bus if you want to get to the airport on time.
An example of text with the verb Take
Pay attention to this text, in which the irregular verb "Take" is presented in different variations. Read carefully and follow how he behaves in these sentences:
Jim entered the room and said that he had taken his sister with him. We were glad to see them. They took their sits and we began our discussion. Alex wanted to take a word. We began to listen to him. He was talking about the importance of studies. He said that he had taken all the measures to pass the exams. Yet, Alex gave us a piece of advice how to learn by heart easier. He said that we should take a sheet of paper and write a short plan of the material. We took his advice for a rule.
Now let's start translating:
Jim entered the room and said that he had taken his sister with him. We were glad to see them. They took their seats and we began our discussion. Alex wanted to take the floor. We started listening to him. He talked about the importance of studying. He said that he made every effort to pass the exams. Alex also gave us advice on how easy it is to memorize. He said that we should take a piece of paper and write down a short outline of the material. We took his advice as a rule.
As you can see, this verb can appear in different times and different forms. 
The use of Take in various grammatical tenses of the verb
Along with "take", in English speech there are often such irregular verbs as: go - go, make - do, produce, get - receive, show - show, find - find, eat - eat, ride - ride, fall - fall, buy - buy, sit - sit, meet - meet.
We recall the forms of these irregular verbs:
- To go-went-gone
- To make-made-made
- To get-got-got
- To show-showed-shown
- To find-found-found
- To eat-ate-eat
- To ride-rode-ridden
- To fall-fell-fallen
- To buy-bought-bought
- To sit-sit-sit
- To meet-met-met
And here is how the words “go, make, get, show, eat, play, ride, fall, meet, etc.” in sentences:
- We go to play do you go with us? — We are going to play; are you coming with us?
- Let's go there by car - Let's go there by car
- What do you do? I make an application with colored paper. - What are you doing? I make an application from colored paper
- Every time I see you, you make me smile - Every time I see you, you make me smile
- Did you make a report yesterday? — Did you make a report/message yesterday?
- Did you get my letter? - Did you get my letter?
- Can he get this report? Can he finish the report?
- It was a terrible fall - It was a terrible fall
- Show me your photos, please? - Show me your photos, please.
- I couldn't find exercises with the irregular verbs - I couldn't find exercises with irregular verbs
- We didn't play computer games - We didn't play computer games
- We often fall out with each other - We often quarrel with each other
- What do you like to eat? - What do you like to eat?
- I eat too much - I eat too much
- They made a lot of money - They made (earned) a lot of money
- I like to ride a horse. - I like to ride a horse
- Tom is afraid to fall, he is nervous. Tom is afraid of falling, he is nervous
- I want to buy some sweets. — I want to buy some sweets
- I like to play board games - I love board games
- I play the horn - I play the horn
- Sit down, please. - Have a seat, please.
- Meet me in the morning. - Meet me in the morning.
In general, wherever you throw - everywhere a wedge of irregular verbs. Let them not strain you, but be your friends in English grammar. Repeat again the forms of the verbs: g o, make, get, show, eat, play, ride, fall, meet. Good luck to you!
Phrasal verbs are one of characteristic features in English. They represent an integral indivisible semantic unit. The verb is combined with a postposition (preposition or adverb), while its main meaning may change completely or partially. One of the most common mistakes newbies make is trying to translate every word. It should be remembered that in English there are many which cannot be divided into component parts when translated, otherwise the meaning will be distorted.
Basic meanings and forms
This verb is irregular, so the second and third forms differ from the standard ones. The forms of the verb take are as follows:
- take;
- took;
- taken.
The main variant of the translation is "take, take". However, the word covers a wide range of meanings. In addition, when translating, one should pay attention to neighboring words and context. This table shows stable expressions.
Not all set phrases are presented here, this is just a small list. As you accumulate vocabulary, you will be able to supplement your personal vocabulary with new expressions.
Phrasal verb to take (combined with prepositions)
The following table lists the most common uses of the word take combined with different prepositions.
| take | after | to be like someone, to be like, to look like someone |
| against | dislike, dislike, dislike | |
| along | take with you, bring | |
| around | accompany, show (attractions) | |
| before | send for consideration, propose (question) for consideration | |
| below | go down | |
| by | take by the shoulders | |
| for | take for someone | |
| from | subtract, subtract, reduce | |
| in | 1) to shelter someone, give shelter; |
|
| off | 1) eliminate, remove; |
|
| on | 1) take on (duties); |
|
| out | 1) invite, lead (to a restaurant, cinema), bring "to the light"; |
|
| over | to replace (at work), to take over, duties | |
| through | to carry out, to finish what has been started | |
| to | 1) love, become attached; |
|
| up | 1) take (something for certain purposes); |
|
| up on | catch on a word | |
| up with | to be satisfied with something |
Some phrases have two or more meanings. This feature must be taken into account when translating. However, everything is not as difficult as it might seem at first. Even if you are unfamiliar with any expression, when reading an article or book, you can guess the meaning of a particular lexical unit from the context and find the correct translation. Then you can check the dictionary to see how well you understood the meaning. This way of replenishing vocabulary is much more effective than simply memorizing a set of words.
Phrasal verb take (combined with adverbs)
In addition to prepositions, they are also often formed using adverbs. There are many different combinations (verb to take + adverb). The following table provides a small list of such lexical units. As mentioned in the previous section, some expressions have multiple translations.
| take | back | to strike, to surprise |
| board | to load, to take on board, to load onto a ship | |
| abroad | 1) go abroad; |
|
| accross (to) | to transport, to transport | |
| apart | 1) to analyze in detail, to understand; |
|
| aside | take aside, withdraw (talk) | |
| away | remove, take away, take away, subtract, take away | |
| back | 1) renounce, refuse, admit one is wrong; |
|
| down | 1) take off (clothes); |
Usage examples
Attempts to memorize phrases out of context will not lead to success. It is very important to learn how to use new words in practice. To master the phrasal verb take you need to include it in your speech. The following are some examples of its use:
- Whom does Tom take after in his family? Which of his family does Tom look like?
- my hobbies take up a lot of my time. - My hobbies are most my time.
- I have taken up the study of Spanish. - I started learning Spanish.
- Most of the planes take off in any weather. - Most planes take off in any weather.
- People are always requested to take off their coats at the theatre. - In the theatre, people should always take off their outer clothing.
Exercises with answers
Another way to master the phrasal verb take- do a lot of exercises. Repeated repetition and application of the learned material in practice will help you to navigate well in this topic.
Exercise 1
Take up is a phrasal verb that has several translations depending on the context. The following translation exercise from Russian to English will help you work out the different uses of this phrase.
- My neighbor took me too long.
- This red wardrobe takes up too much space here.
- Ann, take this book and start reading.
- I intended to become a journalist after high school.
- She took up music three years ago.
- They raised the issue at the meeting.
- She wants to start working. So she starts (on duty) next week.
This exercise is designed to work on some other phrasal verbs.
- Your son is very similar to you.
- Take off your coat and have a cup of tea.
- Most people mistake me for my sister because she looks like me.
- I can't get used to this city.
Answers to the exercises:
Exercise 1
- My neighbor has taken up too much of my time.
- This red wardrobe takes up too much room here.
- ann, take up this book and start reading.
- I intended to take up journalism after school.
- She took up music three years ago.
- They took up this matter on the meeting.
- She wants to start working. So she is going to take up the next week.
Exercise 2
- your son takes after you.
- take down your coat and have a cup of tea.
- Most of people take me for my sister because she takes after me.
- I can't take to this town.
Phrasal verb take- one of the most common, so a detailed study of various combinations will help to greatly advance on the path of learning English.
