Phrasal verbs with take: learn English grammar and vocabulary

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Phrasal verbs with take

 

This post looks at everyday expressions and phrasal verbs with take.  Phrasal verbs are a phrase of two or more words, usually a verb and a preposition or a verb, adverb and prepositions.  In English there are many phrasal verbs with take and they often have a more ‘formal’ equivalent. e.g.  take after somebody = to resemble

 

 

Take after somebody

 

 = To look like or behave like another member of the family

It seems like she takes after her father.  He used to be really good at chess too.

 

The twins also take after their mother. They both have the same dark brown hair and the same nose.

 

Take apart

 

= To separate something in to parts

 

When my daughter was young she used to take everything apart because she wanted to see how things worked.

 

Take care of something or something

 

= To be responsible for somebody or something

 

Would you mind also taking care of our cat while we’re on holiday as well as the hamster?

 

Take it out of somebody

 

= Make someone very tired

 

That run really took it out of me so I’m probably going to have a bath and relax for a bit.

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The difference between MAKE and DO: Learn English Grammar

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Make or do?

Make and do can be a problem for many students because there are not specific rules that helps us decide which to use in every situtation.  Most of the time we have to just learn when to use make and when to use do.  However, there are some rules that might help you learn some of the expressions… Test yourself at the end with our Quick Quiz on make/do.

Make and do: MAKE

1: Used to describe something that we can create or produce

The table is made of wood.

The toys were made in China.

Wine is made from grapes.

He wants a wedding ring made of platinum not gold.

 

2: Used to describe food/drinks

Make breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, tea, coffee, a cake, a sandwich, a salad, a roast dinner etc.

I don’t feel like making dinner tonight.  Shall we eat out?

I’m going to make a cup of tea. Would you like one?

I don’t normally make breakfast for the family now.  The kids are old enough to make their own.

I’ve bought some rum. I thought we could make some cocktails for the party.

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Advanced English expressions with get: Learn English grammar and vocabulary

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Advanced English Expressions with GET

 

Get is one of the most used verbs in the English language.  Therefore it is not surprise that there are many phrasal verbs and expressions containing it. This post is for upper-intermediate and advanced students and it looks at advanced English expressions with ‘get’.

Get hold/ahold of (idiom) = reach someone by telephone/message/text etc

‘I couldn’t get ahold of Tom so I couldn’t ask him to join us tonight.’

 

Get a feel for something = begin to understand how to do something or use something

‘When you learn to drive you have to get a feel for using the gears and pedals.  After a while, you do it all automatically.’

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Prepositions of time, in, at, on: Learn English Grammar

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Prepositions of time

 

This post looks at the prepositions of time,  in, on and at with dates and times.  There is a quick quiz at the end to test your knowledge.

Prepositions of time: IN

Used for non-specific times, for example: years, months

In the morning

In the afternoon

In the evening

In winter/spring/summer/autumn

In five minutes

In a few minutes/days/weeks/months/years

In three weeks

In ten months

In 1996

In the future

In one hundred years’ time

In the moment (this describes someone who lives for the present and does not think about the future.  Therefore it is important not confuse with ‘at the moment’ = right now) Continue reading Prepositions of time, in, at, on: Learn English Grammar →

Learn English Grammar: Phrasal verbs with ‘get’

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Phrasal verbs with GET

 This post looks at some of the most common phrasal verbs with ‘get’.   A phrasal verb is a phrase that contains a verb + preposition or adverb or preposition and adverb.

Phrasal verbs are used a lot in English and therefore they can be very difficult for learners.  Many phrasal verbs usually have a formal equivalent, for example:

After the thief got off the bus he ran towards the town centre.

After the thief alighted from the bus he ran towards the town centre. (formal use)

Phrasal verbs are also difficult for learners because many have more than one meaning.

Finally, you can test yourself at the end of the article with the ‘phrasal verbs with get’ quick quiz.

 

Get across – to make something understood

‘I have been trying to get across to our manager that many of the staff are very unhappy. He just doesn’t want to listen!’

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Learn English: Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin

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Alexander Fleming: Discoverer of penicillin

 

Alexander Fleming was a Scottish scientist who is famous for discovering penicillin. He, and two other chemists, won the Nobel Prize for medicine because of this discovery.

Fleming recieving his nobel

Fleming was born on 6th August 1881 in Ayrshire, Scotland. He was the son of a farmer.  At the age of 13 he moved to London where he worked in a shipping office* for the next four years.  After, he began studying to be a doctor at St Mary’s Medical School, London University. His teacher was Sir Almroth Wright, a pioneer* in vaccine therapy.*

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Boats and Sailing Idioms: Learn English Vocabulary

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Boats and Sailing Idioms

This post looks at some of the idioms that come from boats, ships and sailing expressions.

 

All in the same boat

Idiomatic meaning: to say that everyone is in the same situation (usually a negative one!)

boats idioms The English Tower

‘Tom is worried about losing his job. However, we are all in the same boat. If the factory closes we will all lose our jobs.’ Continue reading Boats and Sailing Idioms: Learn English Vocabulary →

Shakespeare: Learn English vocabulary – William Shakespeare

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Shakespeare 1564-1616

William Shakespeare is a famous English writer. He is famous all over the world for writing plays for the theatre.  Another name for him is the “Bard of Avon”. (Words with * are explained at the end)

William Shakespeare The English Tower Learn English

Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and many historians believe it was probably on Saint George’s Day, 23rd April. He was the third child in a family of eight children. His father was a leather merchant* and had an important position in the local council*. William went to the local grammar* school where he learned Latin and history.

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Conditionals: Learn English Grammar

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Conditionals

This post looks at ‘conditional’ sentences in English.  Conditionals talk about the possibility of something happening as the result of something else.

There are four types of conditionals (sometimes called ‘if’ clauses) in English.   Each conditional has an ‘if’ clause and another clause. The first two types of conditionals talk about real possibilities whilst the second two types talk about unreal possibilities.

Zero Conditionals

This talks about general truths, facts and habits.  It is used for real situations. The present simple is used in both clauses.

If (present simple)   +       present simple

Examples:

If you heat ice,                   it melts.

If I run for too long,          my knee hurts. Continue reading Conditionals: Learn English Grammar →

The Gerund: Learn English Grammar

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The Gerund

This post looks at some of the most common verbs followed by a gerund.  A gerund is a verb that is changed into a noun and is formed, verb + ing.  We often use the gerund after verbs that express like or dislike of something.

Verbs of liking and disliking

Like                  I like playing tennis.

Dislike             I dislike eating artichokes.

Fancy               I fancy eating out tonight because I’m too tired to cook.

Enjoy               I enjoy watching films with my children.

Love                 I love singing in the shower but only if there is no one else at home!

Hate                I hate being late.

Detest              I detest seeing people being rude.

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