Phrasal Verbs With Take

Common short verbs are often used with prepositions and adverb particles to make two-word verbs. These are called phrasal verbs or prepositional verbs.

Phrasal verbs are especially common in informal speech and writing.

In English there are several phrasal verbs using the word take. Can you use them correctly?

Phrasal verbs with take

Take after somebody

To take after somebody is to look like them.

• She takes after her grandmother. They have the same black eyes and silky hair.

Take something apart

To take something apart is to separate it into its pieces.

• It won’t be possible to repair the refrigerator without taking it apart.

Take something back

To take something back is to return it.

• This meat is stale. I am going to take it back to the store.

To take a statement back is to admit that what you said was wrong.

• A public outcry compelled the minister to take his offensive remarks back.

Take something down

To take something down is to remove it.

• Once the exhibition was over, they took down the tents.

To take a piece of information down is to write it on paper.

• Take down his address lest you should forget it.

Take someone in

To take someone in is to allow them to stay in your house.

• Her family refused to take her in so she rented a home.

Take something in

To take a piece of information in is to understand it.

• As he spoke fast, I couldn’t take in anything.

To take in a piece of clothing is to make it shorter.

• This blouse is too loose for me. I should take it in.

Take off

When your career takes off, you become successful and popular in a short span of time.

• Her career in the showbiz is yet to take off.

Take something off

To take a piece of clothing off is to remove it from your body.

• Indians usually take their shoes off before entering the house.

To take a day off is to be absent from work.

• He took a day off to attend his sister’s wedding.

Take something on

To take a responsibility on is to accept it.

• If I had time I would take on this project.

Take on

To take on somebody is to fight against them.

• Argentina will take on Brazil in the World Cup Football Final.

Going deeper

For a comprehensive account of English grammar, visit our section English Grammar. For English grammar and vocabulary exercises, visit Grammar and vocabulary exercises. For Business English writing lessons visit Business English.