Got fifteen minutes? Want to practice more phrasal verbs?
Keep reading this post!
You will review phrasal verbs with take, check your understanding, and then use the verbs in conversation with a friend (or yourself!) by answering five questions.
Please note that some of these phrasal verbs have other meanings, too!
Part 1: Definitions and Usage
take after (someone)
- Definition: To resemble someone, especially a family member, in appearance or behavior
- Example: "Sarah takes after her mother – they both have leadership skills."
take away
- Definition: To remove or subtract something
- Example: "The new policy takes away some of the flexibility we had in scheduling meetings."
take back
- Definition: To retract a statement or return an item
- Example: "I'd like to take back what I said during the meeting – I spoke before I had all the facts."
take down
1. Definition: To write or note something
- Example: "Please take down the main points from the presentation."
2. Definition: To remove or dismantle
- Example: "We need to take down the old displays."
take in
Definition: To understand or absorb information
- Example: "It took me a while to take in all the new procedures."
take on
Definition: To accept new responsibilities or challenges
- Example: "She's taking on more projects in the marketing department."
take over
- Definition: To assume control or responsibility
- Example: "Janet will take over as project manager when Michael retires."
take up
1. Definition: To begin a new activity or hobby
- Example: "Many employees have taken up meditation to reduce stress."
2. Definition: To occupy time or space
- Example: "The quarterly review meeting takes up most of Thursday morning."
Part 2: Practice Quiz
Answer the following questions using the appropriate phrasal verb with "take." Answers are below this section.
1. The new software implementation ______ considerable time and resources.
a) is taking after
b) is taking up
c) is taking in
d) is taking back
2. Our team is planning to ______ two new projects this quarter.
a) take over
b) take down
c) take on
d) take after
3. Could you please ______ everything she says during the client meeting?
a) take down
b) take up
c) take in
d) take over
4. The junior associate ______ her mentor in terms of analytical thinking.
a) takes up
b) takes on
c) takes after
d) takes away
5. The board of directors will ______ management of the company next month.
a) take after
b) take over
c) take up
d) take down
ANSWER KEY
1(b), 2(c), 3(a), 4(c), 5(b)
Part 3: Conversation Practice
Find a partner and have a discussion using phrasal verbs with "take" in your responses:
1. What new responsibilities have you recently taken on? How do you feel about it?
2. Do people tell you that you take after someone in your family? In what ways?
3. What new skills or hobbies have you taken up in the past year? Why?
4. Can you describe a situation where you had to take back something you said?
5. When was the last time you had to take over someone else's projects or responsibilities? How did you handle the transition?
Image by mada_1 at LiveWorksheets