Why are ‘Take’ Phrasal Verbs Important for B2 English?

Phrasal verbs are a big part of natural English. Many common actions and ideas are expressed using a verb plus a preposition or adverb.

The verb ‘take’ is especially versatile. It combines with many different words to create a wide range of meanings.

• Learning these expressions helps you understand native speakers better.
• It also makes your own English sound more advanced and fluent.
• These verbs are often tested in B2 level exams like the Cambridge B2 First.

What Do These 'Take' Expressions Mean?

Let's look at some important phrasal verbs and expressions with ‘take’:

• Take out: This often means to withdraw money from a bank. It can also mean to remove something from a place.
• Take someone seriously: This means to believe that someone is sincere or important, or that their ideas are worth considering.
• Take turns: This refers to when two or more people do something one after the other, sharing the responsibility.
• Take someone for granted: This means to not appreciate someone or something enough, because you are so used to having them.
• Take after someone: This means to resemble a parent or older relative in appearance or personality.
• Take charge of something: This means to assume control or responsibility for something or a situation.
• Take off: When talking about a business or project, this means to become successful or popular very quickly.
• Take account of something: This means to consider something when making a decision or judgment.

How to Use 'Take' Expressions in Sentences?

Using these expressions correctly shows a good command of English. Pay attention to the prepositions and the context.

Remember that the meaning can change significantly with just one small word.

Examples

• I need to take out some cash from the ATM.
• My boss never takes my suggestions seriously.
• We take turns doing the laundry every week.
• Don't take your friends for granted; appreciate them.
• She takes after her mother; they both have artistic talent.
• The new manager immediately took charge of the project.
• Their new product really took off after the TV advertisement.
• You should take account of all the risks before investing.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes make mistakes with these expressions due to direct translation or similar-sounding phrases:

• Take after: Do not say "She looks like her mother" if you mean she has a similar personality or inherited traits. Use "She takes after her mother" for personality/traits. "Look like" is for physical appearance.
• Take off (business): Be careful not to confuse this with literal meanings like "quitarse la ropa" (to take off clothes) or "despegar" (a plane taking off). The context is very important.
• Take for granted: This phrase is often difficult to translate directly. Avoid literal translations like "tomar por sentado" which doesn't capture the full meaning of not appreciating someone.
• Take account of: While "tener en cuenta" is a good parallel, ensure you use the correct English preposition "of", not "in" or "for".

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 'take after' and 'look like'?

‘Take after’ means to resemble someone in personality, habits, or inherited characteristics. For example, “He takes after his grandfather; they are both very stubborn.” ‘Look like’ means to have a similar physical appearance. For example, “She looks like her sister; they have the same eyes.”

Can 'take off' be used for things other than business success?

Yes, ‘take off’ has several meanings. It can mean for an airplane to leave the ground (“The plane took off on time.”), or to remove clothing (“Please take off your shoes.”). In this lesson, we focus on its meaning of a business or project becoming successful.

Are these expressions common in the B2 First (FCE) exam?

Yes, phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions with common verbs like ‘take’ are very common in the B2 First exam. You might find them in the Use of English sections (Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4), especially in tasks like 'Drag the Words' or 'Key Word Transformations', which test your vocabulary and grammatical knowledge.

Is 'take for granted' always negative?

Yes, ‘take for granted’ usually has a negative connotation. It implies that you do not appreciate someone or something as much as you should, often because you are so accustomed to their presence or benefits. For example, “People often take clean water for granted.”

Related lessons

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