Mastering ‘Take After’ for IELTS Success: Boost Your Speaking Score

1. Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb “take after” is commonly used in English to describe resemblance or similarity, particularly within family relationships. It means to look like or behave like another person, usually a family member.

Key meanings:

1. To resemble someone in appearance
2. To be similar to someone in behavior, personality, or skills

Synonyms for “take after” include:

• Resemble
• Be similar to
• Be like
• Favor (American English)

2. Usage in Context

“Take after” is versatile and can be used in various contexts:

• Informal speaking: “I take after my dad – we both have a great sense of humor.”
• Formal writing: “Research suggests that children often take after their parents in terms of career choices.”
• IELTS Speaking: “In my family, I take after my mother in terms of personality traits.”

Family members showing resemblance

3. Grammar Analysis

“Take after” is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning no words can be inserted between “take” and “after.”

Structure: Subject + take after + object

Example:

• Correct: “She takes after her grandmother.”
• Incorrect: “She takes her grandmother after.”

4. Application in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking:

“Take after” can be effectively used in various parts of the IELTS Speaking test, particularly when discussing family, personal characteristics, or influences.

Sample answers:

1. Question: “Who do you take after in your family?”
   Answer: “I’d say I take after my father quite a bit. We share similar interests in technology and have the same analytical approach to problem-solving.”

2. Question: “How are you similar to your parents?”
   Answer: “Interestingly, I take after both of my parents in different ways. I’ve inherited my mother’s creativity and my father’s determination.”

In IELTS Writing:

While “take after” is more common in spoken English, it can be used in writing to add variety to your vocabulary. However, be cautious about overusing informal phrases in formal essays.

Example for Task 2 essay on family influences:
“Many individuals take after their parents not only in appearance but also in career choices, highlighting the significant impact of family on personal development.”

5. Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Look like /lʊk laɪk/ – to resemble in appearance
   Example: “She looks like her mother.”

2. Take to /teɪk tuː/ – to become fond of or interested in
   Example: “He quickly took to playing the guitar.”

3. Grow into /ɡrəʊ ˈɪntə/ – to gradually become
   Example: “She grew into a confident young woman.”

4. Turn out /tɜːn aʊt/ – to develop in a particular way
   Example: “Despite the challenges, the project turned out well.”

5. Come across as /kʌm əˈkrɒs æz/ – to give a certain impression
   Example: “He comes across as very confident in interviews.”

6. Bring up /brɪŋ ʌp/ – to raise a child
   Example: “She was brought up by her grandparents.”

7. Take on /teɪk ɒn/ – to assume a quality or appearance
   Example: “The sky took on a reddish hue at sunset.”

8. Grow up /ɡrəʊ ʌp/ – to become an adult
   Example: “Where did you grow up?”

9. Stand out /stænd aʊt/ – to be easily noticed because of being different
   Example: “His bright red hair made him stand out in the crowd.”

10. Catch on /kætʃ ɒn/ – to become popular or fashionable
    Example: “The new dance style quickly caught on among teenagers.”

6. Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks:

1. John _____ after his father in his love for sports.
2. The young actress _____ after her famous mother in both looks and talent.
3. I don’t _____ after anyone in my family when it comes to musical ability.
4. Many people say that I _____ after my grandmother in terms of personality.
5. The puppy seems to _____ after its mother in being calm and gentle.
6. She doesn’t _____ after her parents in terms of career choice.
7. The way he speaks _____ after his favorite TV character.
8. Children often _____ after their parents’ eating habits.
9. In terms of artistic skills, she clearly _____ after her father.
10. The young politician _____ after his mentor in his public speaking style.

Rewrite the sentences:

1. She resembles her aunt in appearance and behavior.
   Rewrite: She _____ her aunt in appearance and behavior.

2. The child has inherited his father’s sense of humor.
   Rewrite: The child _____ his father in his sense of humor.

3. My brother and I are very similar in our approach to problem-solving.
   Rewrite: I _____ my brother in our approach to problem-solving.

4. The new software is similar to the previous version in many ways.
   Rewrite: The new software _____ the previous version in many ways.

5. Her style of painting is reminiscent of famous impressionist artists.
   Rewrite: Her style of painting _____ famous impressionist artists.

6. The company’s new policy is modeled on successful tech startups.
   Rewrite: The company’s new policy _____ successful tech startups.

7. The student’s essay reflects his teacher’s writing style.
   Rewrite: The student’s essay _____ his teacher’s writing style.

8. Many of her mannerisms are similar to those of her mother.
   Rewrite: She _____ her mother in many of her mannerisms.

9. The young musician’s style is clearly influenced by classic rock bands.
   Rewrite: The young musician’s style clearly _____ classic rock bands.

10. The new restaurant’s menu is inspired by traditional Italian cuisine.
    Rewrite: The new restaurant’s menu _____ traditional Italian cuisine.

Answers and Explanations:

Fill in the blanks:

1. takes, 2. takes, 3. take, 4. take, 5. takes, 6. take, 7. takes, 8. take, 9. takes, 10. takes

Rewrite the sentences:

1. She takes after her aunt in appearance and behavior.
2. The child takes after his father in his sense of humor.
3. I take after my brother in our approach to problem-solving.
4. The new software takes after the previous version in many ways.
5. Her style of painting takes after famous impressionist artists.
6. The company’s new policy takes after successful tech startups.
7. The student’s essay takes after his teacher’s writing style.
8. She takes after her mother in many of her mannerisms.
9. The young musician’s style clearly takes after classic rock bands.
10. The new restaurant’s menu takes after traditional Italian cuisine.

Explanation: In each case, “take after” is used to express similarity or resemblance, whether in appearance, behavior, style, or characteristics. This phrasal verb is versatile and can be applied to people, objects, or abstract concepts, making it a valuable addition to your IELTS vocabulary.

7. Memory Tips

To remember “take after,” visualize a family photo album:

• Imagine flipping through pages and noticing how younger family members resemble older ones.
• Picture a “taking” motion, as if the younger person is “taking” traits from the older one.

Another memory aid:

• Think of “after” as in “following in someone’s footsteps.”
• Visualize a child literally walking in their parent’s footprints, “taking” their path “after” them.

Visual memory aid for 'take after'

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mistake: Using “take from” instead of “take after”
   Correct: “I take after my mother.” (Not “I take from my mother.”)

2. Mistake: Separating the phrasal verb
   Correct: “She takes after her father.” (Not “She takes her father after.”)

3. Mistake: Using with non-personal subjects
   Be cautious: While “take after” is primarily used for people, it can occasionally be used metaphorically for things. In formal writing, especially for IELTS, stick to using it for people.

4. Mistake: Overusing in formal writing
   Tip: While excellent for speaking, use more formal alternatives in writing tasks, such as “resemble” or “inherit characteristics from.”

5. Mistake: Forgetting to change the verb form
   Remember: “Take” changes to “takes” in third-person singular (he/she/it takes after).

To avoid these mistakes:

• Practice using “take after” in various sentences.
• When in doubt, refer to a reliable English dictionary or grammar resource.
• In IELTS Speaking, use it confidently when discussing family resemblances.
• For IELTS Writing, especially in formal essays, consider more academic alternatives.

9. Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like “take after” can significantly enhance your IELTS performance, particularly in the Speaking test. It demonstrates a nuanced understanding of English and can help you express ideas about family and personal characteristics more naturally and fluently.

Remember to practice using “take after” in various contexts, and don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your IELTS Speaking responses when appropriate. For Writing tasks, while it’s good to know and understand this phrasal verb, consider using more formal alternatives in academic essays.

By expanding your phrasal verb vocabulary and understanding their proper usage, you’re taking a significant step towards achieving a higher band score in your IELTS exam. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself using these expressions with confidence and ease.

For more insights on improving your IELTS performance, check out our guides on other useful phrasal verbs like ask after and take up. These resources will help you build a comprehensive vocabulary for success in your IELTS journey.