Phrasal Verbs with ‘take’
Take combines with particles to form many essential phrasal verbs covering everything from responsibility to appearance.
Responsibility and Action
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take on | accept (responsibility, work) | She took on too much work. |
| take over | assume control of | The new manager took over last month. |
| take up | start a hobby; fill time/space | He took up running last year. |
| take care of | look after | Can you take care of the dog this weekend? |
| take charge of | assume responsibility for | She took charge of the project. |
Removing and Deducting
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take off | remove (clothing); leave ground (plane) | Take off your shoes at the door. |
| take away | remove; subtract | The noise took away from the experience. |
| take back | return; retract a statement | I take back what I said. |
| take out | remove from inside; go out with someone | He took the rubbish out. / She took him out for dinner. |
| take down | remove; write down | Take down the poster. / Take down these notes. |
Resemblance and Understanding
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take after | resemble (family member) | She takes after her father. |
| take in | understand; deceive; accommodate | It’s a lot to take in. |
| take to | develop a liking for | She really took to swimming. |
Take off has two very different meanings: removing clothing (Take off your coat) and a plane departing (The plane takes off at noon). Context is key!