Understanding ‘Take on’ and Its Importance in IELTS
The phrasal verb ‘take on’ is a versatile and essential expression that can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. Understanding its various meanings and applications can help you express complex ideas more effectively, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections of the test.
Definitions and Explanations
‘Take on’ has several meanings depending on the context:
- To accept or assume a responsibility or challenge
- To hire or employ someone
- To compete against or fight someone
- To begin to have a particular quality or appearance
- To take someone or something with you
Synonyms for ‘take on’ include:
- Accept, undertake, assume (for meaning 1)
- Hire, employ, recruit (for meaning 2)
- Challenge, confront, face (for meaning 3)
- Acquire, develop, adopt (for meaning 4)
- Bring along, include (for meaning 5)
Usage in Context
Here are examples of ‘take on’ in various contexts:
- “I decided to take on the project despite its complexity.” (Formal)
- “The company is taking on new employees this summer.” (Neutral)
- “Are you ready to take on the defending champions?” (Informal)
- “The sky took on a reddish hue at sunset.” (Descriptive)
- “Can I take on a guest to the party?” (Informal)
Various contexts of 'Take on' usage
Grammar Analysis
‘Take on’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning that in some cases, you can place the object between ‘take’ and ‘on’:
- “The company took on new employees.” (Correct)
- “The company took new employees on.” (Also correct)
However, if you use a pronoun, it must come between ‘take’ and ‘on’:
- “The company took them on.” (Correct)
- “The company took on them.” (Incorrect)
Application in IELTS
Speaking Section
In the IELTS Speaking test, using ‘take on’ can demonstrate your ability to use idiomatic language effectively. Here are some examples:
Question: “Describe a challenge you have faced recently.”
Answer: “Recently, I took on the challenge of learning a new language. It was daunting at first, but I’m glad I decided to take it on as it has broadened my horizons.”
Question: “How do you think companies should handle workplace stress?”
Answer: “I believe companies should take on the responsibility of creating a healthy work environment. This could involve taking on wellness experts to provide guidance to employees.”
Writing Section
In IELTS Writing, ‘take on’ can be used to express ideas more concisely and idiomatically:
- “Governments should take on a more active role in environmental protection.”
- “Universities are taking on an increasing number of international students, which brings both benefits and challenges.”
Remember to use this phrasal verb judiciously in formal writing, as it may be considered too casual in some contexts.
Related Phrasal Verbs
-
Take up /teɪk ʌp/ – to start a new hobby or occupation
Example: “I decided to take up photography as a hobby.” -
Take over /teɪk ˈəʊvər/ – to assume control or management
Example: “The new CEO will take over the company next month.” -
Take in /teɪk ɪn/ – to absorb or understand information
Example: “It took me a while to take in all the new information.” -
Take off /teɪk ɒf/ – to become successful or popular suddenly
Example: “Her career really took off after she won that award.” -
Take after /teɪk ˈɑːftər/ – to resemble a family member
Example: “He takes after his father in both appearance and personality.” -
Take back /teɪk bæk/ – to retract a statement or regain possession
Example: “I wish I could take back what I said in anger.” -
Take out /teɪk aʊt/ – to remove or extract
Example: “Don’t forget to take out the trash before you leave.” -
Take to /teɪk tuː/ – to develop a liking for something
Example: “She quickly took to her new job and excelled at it.”
Related phrasal verbs with 'Take'
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks
- The company decided to __ 50 new employees this year.
- She __ the challenge of climbing Mount Everest.
- The sky __ a dark grey color before the storm.
- Our team is ready to __ the defending champions.
- He __ his father’s business after graduation.
- I need to __ a new hobby to reduce stress.
- It took her a while to __ all the new information.
- His career __ after he starred in that blockbuster movie.
- She __ her mother in both looks and personality.
- Could you __ the trash when you leave?
Sentence Transformation
-
Original: The company employed 20 new workers.
Rewrite: The company __ 20 new workers. -
Original: She accepted the role of project manager.
Rewrite: She __ the role of project manager. -
Original: The sky became darker as the storm approached.
Rewrite: The sky __ a darker appearance as the storm approached. -
Original: Our team is prepared to compete against the champions.
Rewrite: Our team is prepared to __ the champions. -
Original: He started learning French last month.
Rewrite: He __ French last month. -
Original: It was difficult for her to understand all the new concepts.
Rewrite: It was difficult for her to __ all the new concepts. -
Original: His business became successful very quickly.
Rewrite: His business __ very quickly. -
Original: She resembles her grandmother in many ways.
Rewrite: She __ her grandmother in many ways. -
Original: Could you remove the dishes from the table?
Rewrite: Could you __ the dishes from the table? -
Original: He developed a liking for classical music.
Rewrite: He __ classical music.
Answers and Explanations
Fill in the blanks:
- take on
- took on
- took on
- take on
- took over
- take up
- take in
- took off
- takes after
- take out
Sentence Transformation:
- The company took on 20 new workers.
- She took on the role of project manager.
- The sky took on a darker appearance as the storm approached.
- Our team is prepared to take on the champions.
- He took up French last month.
- It was difficult for her to take in all the new concepts.
- His business took off very quickly.
- She takes after her grandmother in many ways.
- Could you take out the dishes from the table?
- He took to classical music.
Explanations:
These exercises demonstrate the versatility of ‘take on’ and related phrasal verbs. They show how these expressions can be used to convey various meanings more idiomatically and concisely. Practice using these in different contexts to improve your fluency and naturalness in English.
Memory Tips
To remember the various meanings of ‘take on’, try associating them with vivid mental images:
- For accepting a challenge: Imagine yourself literally picking up (taking) and putting on a heavy backpack (the challenge).
- For hiring: Picture a manager reaching out and bringing (taking) new employees onto a stage (on the team).
- For competing: Visualize two boxers facing each other in a ring, ready to ‘take on’ the fight.
- For changing appearance: Think of a chameleon ‘taking on’ different colors.
These mental associations can help you recall the correct usage more easily during the IELTS test.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
-
Confusing ‘take on’ with ‘take in’:
Incorrect: “The company took in 50 new employees.”
Correct: “The company took on 50 new employees.” -
Using the wrong preposition:
Incorrect: “She took up the challenge.”
Correct: “She took on the challenge.” -
Incorrect word order with pronouns:
Incorrect: “They took on it.”
Correct: “They took it on.”
To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘take on’ in various contexts and pay attention to its correct usage in native English content. Regular exposure and practice will help you internalize the correct patterns.
Conclusion
Mastering the phrasal verb ‘take on’ and its related expressions can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS test. By understanding its various meanings, practicing its usage in different contexts, and avoiding common mistakes, you’ll be able to express yourself more naturally and idiomatically. Remember to incorporate ‘take on’ and other phrasal verbs in your speaking and writing practice to become more comfortable using them under test conditions. With consistent practice, you’ll find yourself taking on the IELTS challenge with greater confidence and success.
For more practice and tips on using phrasal verbs effectively in IELTS, consider exploring resources on describing people who inspire you or discussing leadership experiences. These topics often provide excellent opportunities to showcase your command of idiomatic expressions like ‘take on’.
