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When I ask students to tell me the difference between “take off” and “take on,” most go quiet. Both use the same main verb, “take,” but they mean completely different things. This is why TAKE and GET phrasal verbs are some of the trickiest — they’re everywhere in English, they’re extremely common, and their meanings don’t follow a clear pattern. Knowing these two verb families opens doors to understanding idiom, expressing actions precisely, and passing exams. For more, see our English job interview tips. For more, see our business English guide.
Below, I cover the most useful phrasal verbs built on TAKE and GET, grouped by meaning so you can see the patterns. Each entry includes the separability note, register (whether it’s formal or casual), and real-world examples. You’ll recognize these verbs instantly and use them naturally once you see how the patterns work.
Key Takeaways
- TAKE verbs are all transitive — they take an object (the TV, your shoes, control, advice).
- GET verbs are mostly intransitive — they describe states or movements, not actions on objects (get away, get by, get over).
- TAKE OFF can mean “remove” or “depart” — context determines which.
- GET AWAY WITH = avoid punishment; GET AROUND = move from place to place OR avoid/delay doing something.
- Most are separable or semi-separable; check examples for word-order rules.
Phrasal Verbs with TAKE
TAKE verbs are almost always transitive — they express an action where someone does something to or with an object. Here are the most common ones:
Take After (Somebody)
To resemble someone in appearance or personality; to inherit traits.
Separability: Inseparable (cannot separate)
Register: Neutral, used in all contexts
Example 1: John is such a funny person. He takes after his grandfather, who was a comedian.
Example 2: My daughter takes after my mother — same red hair, same laugh.
Take Apart
To disassemble something; to separate into component parts.
Separability: Separable (can insert object between take and apart)
Register: Neutral to slightly formal
Example 1: The technician took apart the television so he could repair the circuit board.
Example 2: He took the engine apart piece by piece.
Take Off
To remove something, usually clothing; OR to depart (of an aircraft); OR to become successful.
Separability: Separable (for “remove” meaning)
Register: Very common in all contexts
Example 1 (Remove): I always take off my shoes as soon as I get home.
Example 2 (Depart): The plane takes off at 10:30 am.
Example 3 (Become successful): Her music career really took off after that viral video.
Take Over
To assume control or command of; to take charge.
Separability: Separable
Register: Neutral to formal; common in business contexts
Example 1: Germany took over several countries during World War II.
Example 2: She took over the company when her father retired.
Take Back
To return something to a store or owner; OR to retract a statement or opinion.
Separability: Separable
Register: Common and informal
Example 1: The jeans I bought were too small, so I took them back and exchanged them for a larger size.
Example 2: I’m sorry I said you were stupid. I take it back.
Take Out
To remove something from a place; OR to go somewhere for entertainment (with someone); OR to eliminate or destroy.
Separability: Separable
Register: Very common and informal
Example 1 (Remove): I took the letter out of the envelope.
Example 2 (Entertainment): I’m taking my girlfriend out to dinner on our anniversary.
Example 3 (Eliminate): The sniper took out the target.
Take On
To accept a challenge or responsibility; to hire or employ; to fight or compete against.
Separability: Separable
Register: Neutral, used in both formal and informal contexts
Example 1: She took on a challenging new project at work.
Example 2: The company took on three new employees last month.
Example 3: He’s willing to take on anyone in a debate.
Phrasal Verbs with GET
GET verbs are mostly intransitive — they describe states, conditions, or movements, rather than actions performed on an object. Here are the most frequent ones:
Get Out
To leave or exit a place; to escape.
Separability: Intransitive (no direct object)
Register: Common and informal
Example 1: Get out of my way!
Example 2: We need to get out of this traffic jam.
Get Over
To recover from something (illness, disappointment, loss); to stop thinking about something emotionally troubling.
Separability: Inseparable
Register: Very common, informal and formal
Example 1: I can’t get over how hard that test was.
Example 2: It took her months to get over her breakup.
Example 3: He never could get over his fear of flying.
Get Away With
To do something wrong without punishment or consequences; to evade responsibility.
Separability: Inseparable
Register: Common, slightly informal
Example 1: The bank robbers got away with robbing the bank — the police never found them.
Example 2: She submitted her assignment late, but got away with it because the teacher was in a good mood.
Get On With
To continue with something; to make progress on a task; to have a good relationship with someone.
Separability: Inseparable
Register: Common, neutral
Example 1: Listen everyone — it’s time to stop talking and get on with our class.
Example 2: She gets on well with all her colleagues.
Get Around
To move from place to place; to have a way of traveling; OR to avoid or delay doing something; OR to become widely known.
Separability: Intransitive (mostly)
Register: Common and informal
Example 1 (Move): I get around by bicycle, but my brother gets around on foot.
Example 2 (Avoid): There’s no way to get around paying taxes.
Example 3 (Become known): News travels fast — word gets around quickly in a small town.
Get Around To
To finally do something after delay; to find time to do something you’ve been putting off.
Separability: Inseparable
Register: Common and informal
Example 1: I finally got around to doing my homework — I didn’t do it for several days.
Example 2: When will you get around to fixing that broken shelf?
Get By
To have enough money or resources to survive or manage; to cope with a difficult situation.
Separability: Intransitive
Register: Common and informal
Example 1: I have enough money to get by until next week.
Example 2: Even without a car, she manages to get by.
Get Down To
To become serious about something; to turn one’s attention to; to begin dealing with something important.
Separability: Inseparable
Register: Common, neutral to formal
Example 1: Dinner is finished — now it’s time to get down to business.
Example 2: We need to get down to the real issue here.
Comparison Table: TAKE vs. GET Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Separability | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Take after | Resemble | Inseparable | Neutral |
| Take apart | Disassemble | Separable | Neutral |
| Take off | Remove / Depart / Become successful | Separable (remove) | Very common |
| Take over | Assume control | Separable | Neutral-formal |
| Take back | Return / Retract | Separable | Common |
| Get over | Recover from | Inseparable | Very common |
| Get away with | Avoid punishment | Inseparable | Informal |
| Get on with | Continue / Have good relationship | Inseparable | Neutral |
| Get by | Manage / Survive | Intransitive | Informal |
Quick memory tip: TAKE verbs usually show active control (you take something, you do something to someone). GET verbs usually show state or condition (you get sick, you get over something, you get away). This pattern helps you remember which is which.
Sample Dialogue
At a Job Interview
Interviewer: Tell me about your last job. Did you get on well with your team?
Candidate: Yes, very well. I took on several challenging projects and my supervisor asked me to take over some team responsibilities.
Interviewer: Excellent. How did you take on those extra responsibilities?
Candidate: Well, I broke down the tasks, took apart complex problems into smaller steps, and made sure I got around any obstacles by planning ahead.
Interviewer: That’s impressive. When can you start?
Common Mistakes with TAKE and GET Verbs
✗ Incorrect: She takes off her coat.
✓ Correct: She takes off her coat. OR She takes her coat off.
Why: Both are correct; the first is more natural with nouns.
✗ Incorrect: He couldn’t get over with his fear.
✓ Correct: He couldn’t get over his fear.
Why: “Get over” is inseparable — no “with” after “get over.”
✗ Incorrect: I took on the problem.
✓ Correct: I took on the challenge. OR I took on the responsibility.
Why: “Take on” means to accept a challenge or responsibility — not simply to face a problem.
✗ Incorrect: Get down to the answer.
✓ Correct: Get down to business. OR Get down to work.
Why: “Get down to” is used for serious tasks, not for quick answers.
Quick Quiz
Fill in the blanks with the correct TAKE or GET phrasal verb:
- The new manager will ________ ________ next month. (take/over)
- I can’t ________ ________ how expensive that restaurant was! (get/over)
- My daughter ________ ________ her mother — same eyes and smile. (take/after)
- He ________ ________ his shirt before going swimming. (take/off)
- Finally ________ ________ ________ my Spanish homework! (get/around/to)
Answers: 1. take over · 2. get over · 3. takes after · 4. took off · 5. finally got around to
Related Articles
- Separable Phrasal Verbs in English
- Inseparable Phrasal Verbs in English
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Phrasal Verbs (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between “Take off” and “Take out”?
“Take off” primarily means to remove something (shoes, jacket) or to depart (of a plane). “Take out” means to remove something from a place, to go somewhere for entertainment with someone, or to eliminate. Both are separable, but “take off” focuses on removal or departure, while “take out” focuses on removal or social activity.
Are TAKE and GET phrasal verbs formal or informal?
Most are informal and very common in spoken English. However, some (like “take over” in business contexts) appear in formal writing. “Get over,” “get by,” and “get around” are typical informal verbs you’ll hear in everyday conversation.
How do I remember which GET verbs are separable?
Most GET verbs are inseparable — you can’t insert an object between “get” and the particle. For example, “get over something” (not “get something over”). A good rule: if separating it sounds wrong or creates confusion, it’s inseparable.
Can “take after” be used for things other than people?
Rarely. “Take after” is almost exclusively used for resemblance between people (appearance, personality, behavior). For similarity in objects or ideas, use different verbs like “resemble” or “be similar to.”
What register should I use these verbs in?
TAKE and GET phrasal verbs are generally informal. In formal academic or legal writing, you might replace them with single-word verbs (e.g., “assume” for “take on,” “recover” for “get over”). However, in professional emails and everyday business communication, these phrasal verbs are perfectly acceptable and natural.
Is there a pattern to which TAKE verbs are separable?
Most TAKE verbs that show an action on an object are separable (take apart, take back, take over, take out, take on). “Take after” is inseparable because it’s not an action but a state of resemblance. Learning through exposure and practice is the best approach.
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