The verb to take · Conjugation
Present Simple of take
The answer: take / takes
A1
Habits, routines and facts that are always true.
Quick answer
The Present Simple of the verb to take is take / takes.
Example: I take the bus every day.
Full conjugation in the Present Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | take |
| You | take |
| He / She / It | takes |
| We | take |
| You (pl.) | take |
| They | take |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. He take ❌
With he, she and it, use takes, not take. He takes the bus, never he take the bus.
2. Take it here, please ❌
Take = carry something away from the speaker. Bring = carry something to the speaker. So say Bring it here, please. Ask yourself: is the thing moving away from the speaker, or coming closer?
3. How long it takes? ❌
To talk about how long something lasts, use take: It takes two hours ✓. In a question, add does before it: How long does it take? ✓, not How long it takes? ❌.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate take in the present simple?+
Use take with I, you, we and they (I take the bus). Use takes with he, she and it (She takes the bus). For the third person, just add -s.
What are the main meanings of take?+
Take has many meanings: (1) to get hold of something (I take an apple); (2) to carry something with you (Take your jacket); (3) to need an amount of time (It takes ten minutes); (4) to travel by bus, train or plane (I take the bus). The rest of the sentence tells you which one.
What is the difference between I take and I'm taking?+
I take is for habits: I take the bus to school every day. I'm taking is for something happening now (I'm taking a photo of the sea) or for a fixed plan (I'm taking the 8 o'clock train tomorrow).
How do you use it takes time?+
The pattern is It takes + time + to + base form. For example: It takes 20 minutes to get there. To ask the question, say How long does it take?
Is it take or bring?+
Take = carry something away from the speaker (Take your umbrella when you leave). Bring = carry something to the speaker (Bring your umbrella to my house). The direction decides: away from the speaker or towards the speaker.
Related pages: take Present Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
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/present
© 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.
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More forms of the verb to take are coming soon.