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In my first month teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City, a student asked, “Teacher, why do we say ‘take a photo’ but not ‘do a photo’ or ‘have a photo’?” I didn’t have a quick answer at the time. Now I tell learners: “That’s a collocation — a natural combination that English speakers just know by ear.” The verb take is one of the most productive verbs for collocations in English, and mastering its 50+ standard combinations will transform your fluency dramatically.
The beauty of take collocations is that they cover so many everyday situations — from rest and travel to action and consequence. This guide groups all 50+ TAKE collocations by meaning (time, movement, action, consequence), so you can see the patterns and remember them more easily than as a random list. Once you internalise these pairs, you’ll notice native speakers using them constantly.
Key Takeaways
- TAKE collocations fall into clear patterns — rest (take a break), movement (take a taxi), action (take action), consequence (take a risk), and time (take a minute).
- TAKE pairs with nouns you “accept” or “undergo” — you don’t “have a risk”; you “take a risk.” The verb signals responsibility or acceptance.
- TAKE is more versatile than alternatives — saying “take a photo” is more natural than “make a photo” or “do a photo,” even though all could be understood.
- Some TAKE collocations change meaning with the noun — “take a seat” means sit down, but “take a step” can mean move forward physically or make progress metaphorically.
- TAKE is often more formal or neutral than alternatives — “take action” sounds more professional than “do action,” which isn’t English at all.
Introduction to TAKE Collocations
The verb take in collocations generally implies you are “accepting,” “assuming,” or “undergoing” something. This is different from “have,” which often expresses passive states. Compare:
- Have a bath = be in a bath (state)
- Take a bath = go bathe yourself (action)
This distinction explains why English speakers say “take a risk” (you are actively assuming the risk), not “have a risk” (which sounds passive and strange).
Golden rule for TAKE: If the collocation involves doing, accepting, or undergoing something, use TAKE. If it’s about existing in a state, use HAVE. “I have a headache” (passive state); “I take a painkiller” (active choice).
TAKE Collocations by Category
1. REST & BREAKS
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take a break | stop work to rest briefly | Let’s take a break — we’ve been working for three hours. |
| take a rest | rest or relax | After the long flight, I need to take a rest. |
| take a nap | sleep for a short time | The baby takes a nap every afternoon at 2 pm. |
| take a vacation / holiday | stop work for pleasure travel | I’m planning to take a vacation in July. |
| take time off | leave work temporarily (for rest or personal reasons) | I took three days off for my daughter’s birthday. |
2. MOVEMENT & TRANSPORT
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take a walk | go for a walk | I take a walk in the park every morning. |
| take a drive / ride | go in a vehicle for pleasure | Let’s take a drive along the coast. |
| take a trip | make a journey | We took a trip to Japan last summer. |
| take a taxi / bus / train / flight | use these forms of transport | I take the train to work every day. |
| take a turn | change direction or take responsibility in sequence | When you reach the roundabout, take a left turn. |
3. ACTION & RESPONSIBILITY
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take action | do something about a problem | If we don’t take action now, it’ll be too late. |
| take charge (of) | assume control or responsibility | He decided to take charge of the project himself. |
| take part (in) | participate | Will you take part in the competition? |
| take place | happen; occur | The conference will take place in April. |
| take responsibility | accept duty or blame | I’m ready to take responsibility for my mistake. |
| take the initiative | make the first move | She took the initiative and organized the event. |
| take steps | make moves toward a goal | We’re taking steps to reduce carbon emissions. |
4. COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take a message | write down what someone said | Can I take a message for you? |
| take notes | write down important information | Students should take notes during the lecture. |
| take a look | examine something briefly | Can you take a look at this email and give me feedback? |
| take a photo / picture | capture an image with a camera | I took a beautiful photo of the sunset. |
| take advice | listen to and follow someone’s suggestion | I took my doctor’s advice and started exercising. |
| take notice (of) | pay attention to; observe | Don’t take notice of the rumours — they’re not true. |
5. EMOTION & ATTITUDE
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take a risk | expose yourself to possible loss or harm | Starting a business means you have to take risks. |
| take pride in | feel proud about something you’ve done | She takes great pride in her work. |
| take exception to | be offended by; disagree with | I take exception to your comment — it’s disrespectful. |
| take it personally | feel hurt by criticism | Don’t take it personally; it’s just constructive feedback. |
| take a stance (on) | adopt a firm position or opinion | The government took a strong stance on environmental protection. |
6. TIME & DURATION
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take a minute / hour / day | require that amount of time | This project will take several months to complete. |
| take a while | require an unspecified (but noticeable) amount of time | Learning a language takes a while, but it’s worth it. |
| take your time | don’t hurry; go slowly | There’s no rush — take your time with the decision. |
| take ages | take an extremely long time | Finding a parking spot in the city takes ages. |
7. EXAMINATION & TESTING
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take an exam / test | sit for an examination | I’m taking my driving test next month. |
| take a class / course | enrol in and attend a class | I’m taking a business course this semester. |
| take a lesson | receive instruction in something | My son takes swimming lessons twice a week. |
| take a measurement / temperature | record a measurement or body temperature | The nurse took my blood pressure and temperature. |
| take a sample | collect a specimen for analysis | The doctor took a blood sample for testing. |
8. POSITIVE & NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
| Collocation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| take a loss | suffer financial harm | The company took a loss of 5 million this quarter. |
| take a toll (on) | have a harmful effect | Stress has taken a toll on his health. |
| take the blame | accept responsibility for a mistake | He was willing to take the blame for the error. |
| take advantage (of) | use an opportunity; or exploit someone (context-dependent) | I’ll take advantage of the sale to buy new clothes. |
| take a chance | risk something; do something uncertain | You have to take a chance if you want to succeed. |
| take care (of) | look after; be responsible for | Who’s taking care of the children while you’re away? |
TAKE Collocations: Formal vs. Informal
Some TAKE collocations shift register depending on context:
| Collocation | Formal context | Informal context |
|---|---|---|
| take a look | Examine the report (I’ll take a look at it). | Check this out (Take a look at this video). |
| take action | The board will take swift action on this issue. | We need to do something / take action ASAP. |
| take a stance | The organisation took a firm stance on climate change. | He’s taking a strong stance on the rule. |
| take responsibility | I take full responsibility for the failure. | I’ll take the blame — it’s my fault. |
| take place | The summit will take place in Geneva. | The party’s taking place at my house. |
Common Mistakes with TAKE Collocations
✗ Incorrect: I need to take a decision about my career.
✓ Correct: I need to make a decision about my career. (Or: take a decision — in British English only, and less common now.)
Why: In modern English, “make a decision” is far more natural than “take a decision.”
✗ Incorrect: He took a photo of me.
✓ Correct: He took a photo of me. / He took my photo.
Why: Both are correct here! “Took a photo of me” is most common, but “took my photo” is equally valid.
✗ Incorrect: The stress took a big toll to my health.
✓ Correct: The stress took a big toll on my health.
Why: “Take a toll” must be followed by “on,” not “to.”
✗ Incorrect: I took advantage to save money.
✓ Correct: I took advantage of the sale to save money.
Why: “Take advantage” requires “of” — the preposition is part of the collocation.
Sample Dialogue: Planning a Holiday
Emma: I’m thinking of taking a vacation next summer. Do you have any suggestions?
Siam: Great idea! I took a trip to Thailand last year, and it was amazing. I took so many photos.
Emma: How long did it take you to plan?
Siam: It took about two months to book everything. I took a few days off work and took the train from the airport to the city.
Emma: That sounds wonderful. Did you take any classes or lessons there?
Siam: Actually, I took a cooking class — best decision I made! You should definitely take a chance and do the same.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz: TAKE Collocations
- I’ll ________ the train to work instead of driving today. (take / make / do)
- The meeting will ________ at 2 pm in the conference room. (take place / do place / have place)
- You should ________ my advice and study harder for the exam. (take / make / do)
- The project will ________ about three weeks to finish. (take / make / cost)
- Let’s ________ a break — we’ve been working for two hours. (take / make / have)
Answers: 1. take · 2. take place · 3. take · 4. take · 5. take
Related Articles on Collocations
- Common Collocations with Verbs in English
- Common Collocations with SAY, TELL, and ASK
- Phrasal Verbs in English
- Common English Idioms
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Collocations (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between “take” and “have” with nouns?
TAKE implies action or responsibility: “take a bath” (go bathe), “take a risk” (assume risk). HAVE implies possession or state: “have a bath” (be in a bath), “have a headache” (suffer from). In American English, “take a shower” is standard; in British English, “have a shower” is more common. Both are correct — it’s regional.
Is “take a decision” correct English?
“Take a decision” is grammatically correct and common in Indian English and some British English contexts. However, in modern American English and contemporary British English, “make a decision” is far more natural and standard. For exams, use “make a decision” to be safe.
Can “take place” be used in casual speech?
Yes, absolutely. “Take place” is neutral and works in both formal and casual contexts. “The party’s taking place at 7 pm” or “The conference will take place next month” — both are fine. It’s a versatile collocation.
How do I know which preposition follows “take”?
Most TAKE collocations don’t require a preposition (“take a break,” “take a photo”). However, some do: “take advantage of,” “take care of,” “take place at/in” (optional). Memorise these as whole phrases, not as the verb + noun separately. Read and listen to examples in context to internalise the prepositions.
Should I use “take a look” or “have a look”?
“Take a look” and “have a look” are both correct, with regional differences. “Take a look” is more common in American English; “have a look” is more British. Both mean the same thing. For an international audience, either is fine — just be consistent.
What’s the difference between “take a break” and “take a rest”?
“Take a break” usually means pause work briefly — typically 5 to 30 minutes. “Take a rest” is broader and can mean rest for longer, or rest generally (not necessarily from work). “Let’s take a break” before starting again; “I need to take a rest” after a long day.
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- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
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