Take meaning in English
Learn how to use Take correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to take someone (somewhere): to lead, to show someone (somewhere)
This is an irregular verb:
I take someone / I took / I have taken
to take (something, time): to acquire, to bring, to choose (something); to consume, to demand (time)
to take a break: to relax, to pause from an activity
Examples
- "Susie : After dinner, Bruno took me to the hotel."
- "Brian : I demand recompense... Take a new companion... Fail in this mission, and my wrath will be swift and brutal... Aaah!"
- "Edward : Thanks for taking me out mining with you, Daddy."
- "Take this test tube and put the ingredients you brought into it."
- "Another airport official confirmed that Delavigne was inebriated, adding "He told his entourage to get on the ship and bring the wine, saying that it was time to "take this party to the motherf***in skies"."
- "If you fix it, I'll take you back home to San Francisco."
- "I shall take a new companion."
- "I'll take your apathy."
- "When we arrived in Paris, he took me to a restaurant in the Latin quarter for a romantic dinner."
- "I took her arm so that I would never forget."
- "To say thank you for all your hard work lately, and to celebrate our moderately successful first quarter sales, I'm pleased to announce that the senior staff of the Delavigne Corporation will be taking a team-building trip this weekend!"
- "Brent : So Gloria, where are you taking me now?"
- "Bruno : Betty had taken me to a restaurant where dishes were served in total darkness, where diners abandoned their vision and used only their other senses to experience the food they were eating."
- "On behalf of the entire flight crew, we would like to thank you once again for choosing English Airlines, and we wish you a pleasant stay in London, or wherever your travels may take you."
- "Is take the horse by its long brown face"
- "Yesterday, Shoshana and Youri took me to the National Museum of Kalackistani History."
- "I'll take two whiskies: one for me, and one for my horse."
- "Horatio : ...I took her to Australia... But she was eaten by "Sharky" the shark."
- "Let me just take you down the hall to Icarus Quincy's office."
- "Only a man would take you to such an awful place."
Exercise 1
Choose the best definition for each expression from Bob's email.
"I won't be able to make it to the meeting" = Bob the meeting.
"I'll pick up a bottle" = Bob will a bottle.
"I'll buy him a bottle of whiskey to make up for it" = Bob will buy a bottle of whiskey .
"We could postpone the meeting" = Bob wants to the meeting.
"I can't find anyone else to take him". = In the context of his email, Bob can't find anyone to his son.
"I won't be able to make it to the meeting" = Bob the meeting.
"I'll pick up a bottle" = Bob will a bottle.
"I'll buy him a bottle of whiskey to make up for it" = Bob will buy a bottle of whiskey .
"We could postpone the meeting" = Bob wants to the meeting.
"I can't find anyone else to take him". = In the context of his email, Bob can't find anyone to his son.
Choose the best definition for each expression from Bob's email.
"I won't be able to make it to the meeting" = Bob cannot attend 1 the meeting.
"I'll pick up a bottle" = Bob will buy 2 a bottle.
"I'll buy him a bottle of whiskey to make up for it" = Bob will buy a bottle of whiskey to compensate for his absence 3.
"We could postpone the meeting" = Bob wants to delay 4 the meeting.
"I can't find anyone else to take him". = In the context of his email, Bob can't find anyone to transport 5 his son.
"I won't be able to make it to the meeting" = Bob cannot attend 1 the meeting.
"I'll pick up a bottle" = Bob will buy 2 a bottle.
"I'll buy him a bottle of whiskey to make up for it" = Bob will buy a bottle of whiskey to compensate for his absence 3.
"We could postpone the meeting" = Bob wants to delay 4 the meeting.
"I can't find anyone else to take him". = In the context of his email, Bob can't find anyone to transport 5 his son.
1 cannot attend: The expression "I won't be able to make it to the meeting" expresses that someone cannot attend or assist a meeting. The expression is synonymous with the phrase "I won't be able to attend the meeting".
1 is canceling: To "cancel" a meeting means to "annul" or "call off" a meeting. Bob is not canceling the meeting, he is trying to temporarily postpone the meeting because he cannot "make it" or "attend" the original time set for the meeting.
1 will arrive late to: This is not a good choice. If Bob is unable "to make it to a meeting", it doesn't mean that he will arrive late to the meeting, but rather that he cannot attend or be present at the meeting.
2 buy: This is correct. In this context, to "pick up" a bottle means "to buy" one. Example: On your way home, could you pick up a bottle of wine?
2 lift: To "lift" an object is to physically "raise" or elevate it. In another context, "to pick up" can mean to physically lift an object, however in Bob's email, this is not the case.
2 open: Bob is "buying" a bottle of whisky for Bruno, not "opening" a bottle of whiskey. The phrasal verb to "pick up" does not indicate that one will "open" an object.
3 to compensate for his absence: The idiom "to make up for (something)" means "to pay back" or "to compensate" for it. Example: "I'm sorry I hit your cat, what can I do to make up for it?" Note that the compensation is not necessarily financial.
3 to express his respect: The idiom "to make up for (something)" is not a gesture of respect, but rather a gesture to "compensate" for something.
3 to make Bruno forget about it: The idiom "to make up for (something)" is not an attempt to make someone forget about something, but rather a gesture to "compensate" for something.
3 that he brewed himself: Bob's expression is not an indication that he himself "brewed" the whiskey himself.
4 delay: The verb "to postpone" means to "delay" or to "put off" something, such as a meeting, to a later time. Example: We need to postpone the meeting until next week because Bob won't be there.
4 cancel: To "cancel a meeting" means to "annul" or to "call it off" entirely. Bob does not want to cancel the meeting, just to "postpone" it to a later date.
4 skip: To "skip" a meeting means to fail to attend a meeting. It is true that Bob will not be able to attend the meeting, however this is not what Bob "wants", nor does it express the meaning of the term "postpone".
5 transport: This is the best choice. Bob writes, "I have an appointment to take my infant son to the pediatrician at 2:30". "To take someone somewhere" means "to transport" them, usually by car.
5 pick up: To "pick someone up" from the doctor's office means to "retrieve" them, or bring them back home from the doctor's office. Example: I will pick you up after school. This is a bit different in meaning than the verb "to take" in this context.
5 babysit: Although Bob is looking for a babysitter, when he writes that he "can't find anyone to take him", he is referring "to transporting" or "bringing" his son to the doctor's office, not that he is looking for someone to babysit him.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks below with the correct form of the verb:
Once I had the package, I it was too late. I had with many boyfriends before, but I had never it upon myself to send them a box full of voodoo dolls until then.
Once I had the package, I it was too late. I had with many boyfriends before, but I had never it upon myself to send them a box full of voodoo dolls until then.
Fill in the blanks below with the correct form of the verb:
Once I had [not done] sent 1 the package, I [not done] knew 2 it was too late. I had [not done] broken up 3 with many boyfriends before, but I had never [not done] taken 4 it upon myself to send them a box full of voodoo dolls until then.
Once I had [not done] sent 1 the package, I [not done] knew 2 it was too late. I had [not done] broken up 3 with many boyfriends before, but I had never [not done] taken 4 it upon myself to send them a box full of voodoo dolls until then.
1 sent: Because the main verb (to send) is preceded by the preterit auxiliary 'had', we must use the past perfect tense (I had sent), which uses the past participle form of the main verb (sent). The past perfect tense is used to situate one past action which occurred before another.
2 knew: We often use the simple past tense to complete constructions which use the past perfect tense. Here the first verb (had sent) tells us about a past action which was done before the second action (knowing it was to late).
3 broken up: Because the main verb (to break up) is preceded by the preterit auxiliary 'had', we must use the past perfect tense (I had broken up), which uses the past participle form (broken). 'To break up' is a phrasal verb meaning to end a romantic relationship. The past perfect tense is used to situate one past action which occurred before another.
4 taken: Because the main verb (to take) is preceded by the preterit auxiliary 'had', we must use the past perfect tense (I had taken), which uses the past participle form (taken). 'To take (something) upon oneself' means to take some initiative or to charge oneself with a task.
Exercise 3
Following the example, re-write the sentence in the negative form using the term 'still'
Type the complete sentence in the blank
You have yet to do your homework --> You still haven't done your homework.
You have yet to ask a question --> .
We have yet to reach an agreement --> .
Horatio has yet to take a shower --> .
Type the complete sentence in the blank
You have yet to do your homework --> You still haven't done your homework.
You have yet to ask a question --> .
We have yet to reach an agreement --> .
Horatio has yet to take a shower --> .
Following the example, re-write the sentence in the negative form using the term 'still'
Type the complete sentence in the blank
You have yet to do your homework --> You still haven't done your homework.
You have yet to ask a question --> You still haven't asked a question 1.
We have yet to reach an agreement --> We still haven't reached an agreement 2.
Horatio has yet to take a shower --> Horatio still hasn't taken a shower 3.
Type the complete sentence in the blank
You have yet to do your homework --> You still haven't done your homework.
You have yet to ask a question --> You still haven't asked a question 1.
We have yet to reach an agreement --> We still haven't reached an agreement 2.
Horatio has yet to take a shower --> Horatio still hasn't taken a shower 3.
1 You still haven't asked a question: 'Still' can be used as the negative equivalent of 'yet'. Both terms express that an action has not occurred, or that an action remains unfinished or uncompleted. When using the term 'still' to express this, we use the negative form of the auxiliary 'have' and the past tense form of the main verb 'ask'. The sentence 'You have yet to ask a question' and 'You haven't asked a question' express exactly the same meaning. Using 'yet' is more formal, and 'still' is more natural in spoken English. 'Still' is placed between the subject and auxiliary and verb in the sentence.
2 We still haven't reached an agreement: 'Still' can be used as the negative equivalent of 'yet'. Both terms express that an action has not occurred, or that an action remains unfinished or uncompleted. When using the term 'still' to express this, we use the negative form of the auxiliary 'have' and the past tense form of the main verb 'reach'. The sentence 'We have yet to reach an agreement' and 'We still haven't reached an agreement' express exactly the same meaning. Using 'yet' is more formal, and 'still' is more natural in spoken English. 'Still' is placed between the subject and auxiliary and verb in the sentence.
3 Horatio still hasn't taken a shower: 'Still' can be used as the negative equivalent of 'yet'. Both terms express that an action has not occurred, or that an action remains unfinished or uncompleted. When using the term 'still' to express this, we use the negative form of the auxiliary 'have' and the past tense form of the main verb 'take'. The sentence 'Horatio has yet to take a shower' and 'Horatio still hasn't taken a shower' express exactly the same meaning. Using 'yet' is more formal, and 'still' is more natural in spoken English. 'Still' is placed between the subject and auxiliary and verb in the sentence.
Exercise 4
"Xavier taught Bruno all that he knew about herbs, flowers, alcohols and chemicals."
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to ".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I English to prisoners for the last seven years".
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to ".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I English to prisoners for the last seven years".
"Xavier taught Bruno all that he knew about herbs, flowers, alcohols and chemicals."
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to teach 1".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher taught 2 me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I have taught 3 English to prisoners for the last seven years".
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to teach 1".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher taught 2 me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I have taught 3 English to prisoners for the last seven years".
1 teach: The verb "to teach" means "to instruct" or "give knowledge". The text explains that Bruno "learned the art of perfume making from his grandfather, Xavier". Note that a teacher "teaches" while a student "learns". The verb "to teach" is irregular: teach/taught/taught.
2 taught: The simple past tense of the verb, "taught", should be used here. The term "yesterday" establishes a precise moment in the past, in which case the simple past tense of the verb is appropriate. The verb "to teach" is irregular: teach/taught/taught.
3 have taught: "Have taught" is the present perfect form of the verb "to teach" (in the first person). We use the present perfect to describe actions which started in the past and continue into the present, OR to describe actions which finished at an unspecified time in the past (I have finished the report). Here, the phrase "for the last seven years" indicates that this action started in the past and continues into the present.
Exercise 5
"Xavier taught Bruno all that he knew about herbs, flowers, alcohols and chemicals."
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to ".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I English to prisoners for the last seven years".
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to ".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I English to prisoners for the last seven years".
"Xavier taught Bruno all that he knew about herbs, flowers, alcohols and chemicals."
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to teach 1".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher taught 2 me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I have taught 3 English to prisoners for the last seven years".
"Taught" is the past tense form of the verb "to teach 1".
Now let's conjugate this verb in a few sentences:
"Yesterday, my teacher taught 2 me an important lesson on the merits of wearing pants".
"I have taught 3 English to prisoners for the last seven years".
1 teach: The verb "to teach" means "to instruct" or "give knowledge". The text explains that Bruno "learned the art of perfume making from his grandfather, Xavier". Note that a teacher "teaches" while a student "learns". The verb "to teach" is irregular: teach/taught/have taught.
2 taught: The simple past tense of the verb, "taught", should be used here. The term "yesterday" establishes a precise moment in the past, in which case the simple past tense of the verb is appropriate. The verb "to teach" is irregular: teach/taught/have taught.
3 have taught: "Have taught" is the present perfect form of the verb "to teach" (in the first person). We use the present perfect to describe actions which started in the past and continue into the present, OR to describe actions which finished at an unspecified time in the past (I have finished the report). Here, the phrase "for the last seven years" indicates that this action started in the past and continues into the present.
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