Irregular verb
The verb to take
take → took → taken
A1Meaning: to get hold of something; to carry something somewhere; to need an amount of time · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 10 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they take·he/she/it takes - Past Simple:
took - Past participle:
taken - -ing form:
taking(without the final e)
Conjugation of the verb to take
Present Simple
| I | take |
| You | take |
| He / She / It | takes |
| We | take |
| You (pl.) | take |
| They | take |
Present Perfect
| I | have taken | I've taken |
| You | have taken | You've taken |
| He / She / It | has taken | He's / She's / It's taken |
| We | have taken | We've taken |
| You (pl.) | have taken | You've taken |
| They | have taken | They've taken |
All the forms of the verb to take
Present Simple
Full pagetake / takes
“I take the bus every day.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are taking
“I am taking a photo right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagetook
“I took the bus to school yesterday.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were taking
“I was taking a photo when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has taken
“I have taken many photos of Paris.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad taken
“She had already taken a photo when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill take
“I will take a photo tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to take
“I'm going to take a photo this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould take
“I would take a photo if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to take
1. Taking something
- I take the bus to school.
- Take an apple.
- He took my book.
2. Talking about time
It takes + time + to + base form: it tells you how long something lasts.
- It takes 10 minutes to get there.
- How long does it take?
3. Common expressions with take
Take a break means to stop and rest for a short time. Take care means to be careful. Take place means to happen.
- take a photo
- take a shower
- take a break
- take care
- take place
- take time
4. Phrasal verbs with take
Take off means to leave the ground (a plane) or to remove clothes. Take on means to accept a job or a challenge. Take back means to return something, or to say you were wrong to say something.
- take off
- take on
- take back
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Can you take me a glass of water? ❌
Take = carry something away from here (Take your umbrella). Bring = carry something to the speaker (Can you bring me a glass of water?). Ask yourself: is the thing coming to me, or going away from me?
2. Takeing ❌
The -ing form drops the final e: take → taking, never takeing.
3. It takes ten minutes for walking there ❌
To say how long something lasts, use it takes + time + to + base form: It takes ten minutes to walk there. Don't use for + -ing here.
Going further
Conjugating to take is a key skill in the English contest
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Related pages: take
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of take?+
The Past Simple of take is took. It is the same for every person: I took, she took, they took. The past participle is taken. Take → took → taken.
Is it took or taken?+
Took is the Past Simple, used alone: I took a photo yesterday. Taken is the past participle. Use it after have / has (I have taken a photo) or in the passive (The photo was taken in 2020).
What is the difference between take and bring?+
Take means to carry something away from where you are now. Bring means to carry something to the place where the speaker is, or will be. Take your umbrella when you go out. Bring your umbrella when you come to my house.
How do you use it takes with time?+
Say it takes + an amount of time + to + base form: It takes ten minutes to walk there. To ask about time, say How long does it take? You can add the person: It takes me an hour to do my homework.
What are common expressions with take?+
Take a photo, take a shower and take a break (to stop and rest for a short time) are very common. Take care means be careful, or goodbye. Take place means to happen. Take off means to leave the ground (a plane) or to remove clothes. Take on means to accept a job or a challenge.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/take
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.