To take: How and When to Use in English
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To take
The verb to take has many uses in English. Here are the most common:
to take a break to have a rest
to take advantage to use the good things in a situation, to abuse
to take a taxi to travel in a taxi
to take time off to have a holiday from work
take me to the station transport me to the station
to take a bath to have a bath
to take advantage to use the good things in a situation, to abuse
to take a taxi to travel in a taxi
to take time off to have a holiday from work
take me to the station transport me to the station
to take a bath to have a bath
Here are some of the most common expressions using the verb to take:
take it slow do it slowly, don't advance too quickly
to take something lightly not to see the serious side of a situation
I can't take it any longer I can't tolerate it any longer
to take a look to have a look
to take for granted to not appreciate something, assuming it will always be there
to take notice to pay attention
to take into account to bear in mind
You can take it from me You can believe me
I'll take it from here I'll continue from this point
to take something lightly not to see the serious side of a situation
I can't take it any longer I can't tolerate it any longer
to take a look to have a look
to take for granted to not appreciate something, assuming it will always be there
to take notice to pay attention
to take into account to bear in mind
You can take it from me You can believe me
I'll take it from here I'll continue from this point
Note
To make a decision is more correct, and more common than 'to take a decision'.
To make a decision is more correct, and more common than 'to take a decision'.
Exercise 1
Read the sentences below. Then, replace the verb to have with a different verb, without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Welcome! Please have a seat! → Please down!
Would you like to have a beer? → Would you like a beer?
It’s good to have a break from work sometimes, don’t you think? → It’s good a break from work sometimes, don’t you think?
Welcome! Please have a seat! → Please down!
Would you like to have a beer? → Would you like a beer?
It’s good to have a break from work sometimes, don’t you think? → It’s good a break from work sometimes, don’t you think?
Read the sentences below. Then, replace the verb to have with a different verb, without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Welcome! Please have a seat! → Please sit 1 down!
Would you like to have a beer? → Would you like to drink 2 a beer?
It’s good to have a break from work sometimes, don’t you think? → It’s good to take 3 a break from work sometimes, don’t you think?
Welcome! Please have a seat! → Please sit 1 down!
Would you like to have a beer? → Would you like to drink 2 a beer?
It’s good to have a break from work sometimes, don’t you think? → It’s good to take 3 a break from work sometimes, don’t you think?
1 sit: "Have a seat" is a polite way of saying "sit down": the speaker is asking someone else to sit (on a chair, bench, etc.). Note that we can also say "take a seat". For example: "Thank you, everyone, for that warm welcome. Please take a seat".
2 to drink: When "to have" is used before a kind of drink, it means "to drink" (in other words, to consume the drink). Another example: "Why don't we have a coffee?".
3 to take: Both "to take a break" and "to have a break" refer to temporarily stopping or pausing something (like work), and often relaxing or resting during that time. For example: "We've been rehearsing for three hours. Let's take a break".
Exercise 2
Read the sentences below. Then, replace the verb to have with a different verb, without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Hey, Trey, would you like to have dinner with me? → Would you like dinner with me?
I think we would have a good time together! → I think we would our time together!
Don’t worry, I always have a shower before going out for dinner! → I always a shower before going out for dinner!
Hey, Trey, would you like to have dinner with me? → Would you like dinner with me?
I think we would have a good time together! → I think we would our time together!
Don’t worry, I always have a shower before going out for dinner! → I always a shower before going out for dinner!
Read the sentences below. Then, replace the verb to have with a different verb, without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Hey, Trey, would you like to have dinner with me? → Would you like to eat 1 dinner with me?
I think we would have a good time together! → I think we would enjoy 2 our time together!
Don’t worry, I always have a shower before going out for dinner! → I always take 3 a shower before going out for dinner!
Hey, Trey, would you like to have dinner with me? → Would you like to eat 1 dinner with me?
I think we would have a good time together! → I think we would enjoy 2 our time together!
Don’t worry, I always have a shower before going out for dinner! → I always take 3 a shower before going out for dinner!
1 to eat: When "to have" is used before a meal or a type of food, it means "to eat". For example: "I want to have a sandwich", "When did you have breakfast?".
2 enjoy: "To have a good time" with someone, and "to enjoy one's time" with someone both share the same meaning. Both refer to a pleasant or fun experience shared with someone else. For example: "-Did you have a good time last night? -Yes, I really enjoyed our time together".
3 take: We can say "to take a shower", "to have a shower" or "to shower": all three referring to washing oneself using a shower. For example: "-Do you want to take a shower after we finish our run? -No thanks, I showered yesterday".
Exercise 3
One or more of the verbs in bold can be replaced with “to have”. For each verb, either replace it with to have (conjugated correctly) if possible, or write the same verb again without changing it.
Example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Can you take this bag for me? → Can you take this bag for me? (cannot be replaced)
Polly’s day was very busy. She took some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to eat her lunch. When she got home, she took a bath. She really took her time, which allowed her to relax fully.
Polly’s day very busy. She some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to her lunch. When she home, she a bath. She really her time, which her to relax fully.
Example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Can you take this bag for me? → Can you take this bag for me? (cannot be replaced)
Polly’s day was very busy. She took some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to eat her lunch. When she got home, she took a bath. She really took her time, which allowed her to relax fully.
Polly’s day very busy. She some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to her lunch. When she home, she a bath. She really her time, which her to relax fully.
One or more of the verbs in bold can be replaced with “to have”. For each verb, either replace it with to have (conjugated correctly) if possible, or write the same verb again without changing it.
Example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Can you take this bag for me? → Can you take this bag for me? (cannot be replaced)
Polly’s day was very busy. She took some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to eat her lunch. When she got home, she took a bath. She really took her time, which allowed her to relax fully.
Polly’s day [not done] was 1 very busy. She [not done] took 2 some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to [not done] have 3 her lunch. When she [not done] got 4 home, she [not done] had 5 a bath. She really [not done] took 6 her time, which [not done] allowed 7 her to relax fully.
Example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Can you take this bag for me? → Can you take this bag for me? (cannot be replaced)
Polly’s day was very busy. She took some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to eat her lunch. When she got home, she took a bath. She really took her time, which allowed her to relax fully.
Polly’s day [not done] was 1 very busy. She [not done] took 2 some papers to the bank at lunchtime, and only had five minutes to [not done] have 3 her lunch. When she [not done] got 4 home, she [not done] had 5 a bath. She really [not done] took 6 her time, which [not done] allowed 7 her to relax fully.
1 was: This verb cannot be replaced here. We use the verb "to be" to describe the qualities or characteristics of something. For example: "That album is incredible", "She was very charming".
2 took: This verb cannot be replaced here. We use the verb "to take" to describe transporting or carrying something to a destination. Another example: "I need to take my shoes to the cobbler's".
3 have: We can use either the verb "to eat" or "to have" to refer to consuming food. Therefore, replacing "eat" with "have" doesn't change the meaning of the sentence. More examples: "Would you like to have an apple?", "I will have a late dinner tonight".
4 got: This verb cannot be replaced here. "To get home" means "to arrive home". For example: "What time did you get home last night?".
5 had: We can say either "to have a bath" or "to take a bath" in English: both expressions refer to washing (or bathing) in a bathtub. Therefore, replacing "took" with "had" doesn't change the meaning of this sentence. Note that both verbs are in the simple past tense. Another example: "You look tired, darling. Why don't you have a bath while I cook dinner?".
6 took: "To take one's time" means to do something slowly or in a relaxed way. The verb "to take" cannot be replaced by another verb in this expression.
7 allowed: This verb cannot be replaced here. Polly taking her time allowed, permitted or enabled her to relax fully. Another example: "Working in the donkey shelter allowed me to grow as a person".
Exercise 4
One or more of the verbs in bold can be replaced with “to have”. For each verb, either replace it with to have (conjugated correctly), or write the same verb again without changing it.
For example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Take your time. → Take your time. (cannot be replaced)
On Tuesdays, Jean always takes out the trash before eating breakfast. He wants to make sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not take the trash on any other day.
On Tuesdays, Jean always out the trash before breakfast. He wants to sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not the trash on any other day.
For example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Take your time. → Take your time. (cannot be replaced)
On Tuesdays, Jean always takes out the trash before eating breakfast. He wants to make sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not take the trash on any other day.
On Tuesdays, Jean always out the trash before breakfast. He wants to sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not the trash on any other day.
One or more of the verbs in bold can be replaced with “to have”. For each verb, either replace it with to have (conjugated correctly), or write the same verb again without changing it.
For example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Take your time. → Take your time. (cannot be replaced)
On Tuesdays, Jean always takes out the trash before eating breakfast. He wants to make sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not take the trash on any other day.
On Tuesdays, Jean always [not done] takes 1 out the trash before [not done] having 2 breakfast. He wants to [not done] make 3 sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not [not done] take 4 the trash on any other day.
For example:
I’m drinking some wine. → I’m having some wine. (can be replaced)
Take your time. → Take your time. (cannot be replaced)
On Tuesdays, Jean always takes out the trash before eating breakfast. He wants to make sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not take the trash on any other day.
On Tuesdays, Jean always [not done] takes 1 out the trash before [not done] having 2 breakfast. He wants to [not done] make 3 sure that he doesn’t forget, because the refuse collectors will not [not done] take 4 the trash on any other day.
1 takes: This verb cannot be replaced here. "To take out the trash/garbage" (US) or "To take out the rubbish" (UK) refers to placing a sack of household waste outside the house for collection. We can only use the verb "to take" in this expression.
2 having: We can use either the verb "to eat" or "to have" to refer to consuming food. "Having breakfast" and "eating breakfast" share the same meaning. Other examples: "Go on, let's have another naan bread"; "I haven't had my mid-morning snack yet!".
3 make: This verb cannot be replaced here. "To make sure (that something happens)" means "to ensure (that something happens)" or to do what is necessary in order for something to happen. Another example: "-I'm going to the market after work. -Make sure you remember to buy more bread!".
4 take: We cannot replace this verb. "Take" in this context refers to transporting the trash away from Jean's house. On days other than Tuesday, the refuse collectors will not take (i.e. will not accept, or will refuse to carry) the trash. Another example: "They wouldn't take my parcel because it was wrongly addressed".
Exercise 5
Icarus: Robert, do you like fun?
Bob: Oh yes. Yesterday, for example, I my son to the park.
Icarus: That does sound like fun!
Bob: Do you like drugs?
Icarus: Erm, not really… Goodbye, Robert!
Bob: Oh yes. Yesterday, for example, I my son to the park.
Icarus: That does sound like fun!
Bob: Do you like drugs?
Icarus: Erm, not really… Goodbye, Robert!
Icarus: Robert, do you like having 1 fun?
Bob: Oh yes. Yesterday, for example, I took 2 my son to the park.
Icarus: That does sound like fun!
Bob: Do you like taking 3 drugs?
Icarus: Erm, not really… Goodbye, Robert!
Bob: Oh yes. Yesterday, for example, I took 2 my son to the park.
Icarus: That does sound like fun!
Bob: Do you like taking 3 drugs?
Icarus: Erm, not really… Goodbye, Robert!
1 having: "To have fun" means "to enjoy oneself" or "to have a good time". For example: "I had a lot of fun at my birthday party last week". Icarus's question is quite unusual, since it's fair to assume that most people like to enjoy themselves!
1 taking: We cannot use "to take" in this sentence. "To take" can replace "to have" in certain contexts only, such as "to have/take a shower" and "to have/take a break".
2 took: "To take someone (to a destination)" means to transport them to the destination, or to accompany them there. For example: "Mom, can you take me to ballet practice on Saturday?".
2 had: We cannot use the verb "to have" to refer to transporting a person or object to a destination.
3 taking: "To take drugs" refers to consuming or ingesting drugs (usually in order to experience some kind of high). We also take medicine, tablets and pills. For example: "Have you taken your anti-depressants today, Grandma?".
3 having: Although this is grammatically correct, it is unlikely in this context. "To have drugs" is not a common English expression, but if used, it would refer to possessing or owning drugs. Bob is undoubtedly asking Icarus if he enjoys consuming drugs, not simply possessing them.
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