Master ‘Take up’ to Boost Your IELTS Speaking Score

Understanding ‘Take up’: Definition and Explanation

The phrasal verb ‘take up’ is a versatile expression that can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. It has several meanings, each applicable in different contexts:

1. To start a new hobby or activity: “I decided to take up yoga to improve my flexibility.”
2. To occupy space or time: “The new sofa takes up too much space in our living room.”
3. To accept an offer or opportunity: “She took up the job offer in London.”
4. To begin to use something: “Many people have taken up cycling as a means of transport.”
5. To shorten a piece of clothing: “I need to take up these trousers; they’re too long.”

Synonyms for ‘take up’ include ‘begin,’ ‘occupy,’ ‘accept,’ ‘adopt,’ and ‘shorten,’ depending on the context.

Using ‘Take up’ in Context

‘Take up’ can be used in various situations, from casual conversations to more formal discourse. Here are some examples:

• Informal: “I’ve taken up guitar lessons. It’s challenging but fun!”
• Formal: “The committee has taken up the proposal for further consideration.”
• Written: “The construction of the new library will take up a significant portion of the university’s budget.”
• Spoken: “I’m thinking of taking up a new language. Do you have any recommendations?”

Using 'Take up' in different contexts

Grammar Analysis

‘Take up’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning that in some cases, you can place the object between ‘take’ and ‘up’:

• “I took up tennis last summer.” (Correct)
• “I took tennis up last summer.” (Also correct)

However, when using pronouns, you must separate the verb:

• “I decided to take it up.” (Correct)
• “I decided to take up it.” (Incorrect)

Application in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking

Incorporating ‘take up’ in your IELTS Speaking responses can demonstrate your command of English phrasal verbs. Here’s how you might use it:

Question: “Do you have any hobbies?”
Sample answer: “Yes, I recently took up photography. I’ve always been fascinated by capturing moments, and now I’m learning the technical aspects of using a DSLR camera.”

Question: “How do people in your country usually spend their free time?”
Sample answer: “Well, in recent years, many people have taken up various fitness activities. From yoga to CrossFit, there’s been a significant shift towards healthier lifestyles.”

In IELTS Writing

In IELTS Writing, ‘take up’ can add sophistication to your essays:

Task 2 example: “As urban populations grow, cities must take up the challenge of providing adequate public transportation to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.”

Remember to use ‘take up’ judiciously in formal writing, as some of its meanings are more suited to conversational English.

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Take on /teɪk ɒn/: To accept a job or responsibility
   Example: “She took on extra shifts at the hospital during the pandemic.”

2. Take over /teɪk ˈəʊvə(r)/: To gain control of something
   Example: “The small company was taken over by a multinational corporation.”

3. Take in /teɪk ɪn/: To absorb or understand information
   Example: “It took me a while to take in all the details of the complex report.”

4. Take off /teɪk ɒf/: To become successful or popular quickly
   Example: “His career really took off after he starred in that blockbuster movie.”

5. Take after /teɪk ˈɑːftə(r)/: To resemble a family member
   Example: “She takes after her mother in both appearance and personality.”

6. Take apart /teɪk əˈpɑːt/: To disassemble something
   Example: “He took apart the old radio to see if he could fix it.”

7. Take back /teɪk bæk/: To retract a statement
   Example: “I take back what I said earlier; I was mistaken.”

Common phrasal verbs related to 'take'

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. After retiring, my grandfather decided to __ gardening as a hobby.
2. The new project will __ most of our time this month.
3. She __ the challenge of learning a new language.
4. Many students __ part-time jobs to support their studies.
5. The tailor needed to __ the dress as it was too long.
6. The company has __ several new employees this year.
7. It might __ a while for you to adjust to the new schedule.
8. The government plans to __ the issue of climate change seriously.
9. He __ running to improve his fitness.
10. The renovation will __ more space than we initially thought.

Sentence Rewriting

1. Original: They started playing tennis last summer.
   Rewrite: They __ tennis last summer.

2. Original: The meeting occupied the entire afternoon.
   Rewrite: The meeting __ the entire afternoon.

3. Original: She began volunteering at the local shelter.
   Rewrite: She __ volunteering at the local shelter.

4. Original: The new sofa uses too much space in our living room.
   Rewrite: The new sofa __ too much space in our living room.

5. Original: I need to shorten these curtains; they’re dragging on the floor.
   Rewrite: I need to __ these curtains; they’re dragging on the floor.

6. Original: The company accepted his proposal for a new marketing strategy.
   Rewrite: The company __ his proposal for a new marketing strategy.

7. Original: Many people are starting to use electric cars to reduce their carbon footprint.
   Rewrite: Many people are __ electric cars to reduce their carbon footprint.

8. Original: She began practicing meditation to reduce stress.
   Rewrite: She __ meditation to reduce stress.

9. Original: The construction of the new mall will use a significant portion of the city’s budget.
   Rewrite: The construction of the new mall will __ a significant portion of the city’s budget.

10. Original: He started collecting rare coins as a hobby.
    Rewrite: He __ collecting rare coins as a hobby.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. take up
2. take up
3. took up
4. take up
5. take up
6. taken up
7. take up
8. take up
9. took up
10. take up

Sentence Rewriting:

1. They took up tennis last summer.
2. The meeting took up the entire afternoon.
3. She took up volunteering at the local shelter.
4. The new sofa takes up too much space in our living room.
5. I need to take up these curtains; they’re dragging on the floor.
6. The company took up his proposal for a new marketing strategy.
7. Many people are taking up electric cars to reduce their carbon footprint.
8. She took up meditation to reduce stress.
9. The construction of the new mall will take up a significant portion of the city’s budget.
10. He took up collecting rare coins as a hobby.

Explanations:
In each of these sentences, ‘take up’ is used to indicate starting a new activity, occupying space or time, or accepting something. The tense changes based on the context of the sentence. Remember that ‘take up’ is separable, so in some cases, you could place the object between ‘take’ and ‘up’ (e.g., “She took meditation up to reduce stress” is also correct).

Memory Tips

To remember the various uses of ‘take up’, try associating each meaning with a visual cue:

1. Starting a hobby: Imagine picking up (taking up) a paintbrush to start painting.
2. Occupying space: Visualize a large object taking up space in a room.
3. Accepting an offer: Picture yourself picking up (taking up) a job offer letter.
4. Beginning to use: Imagine taking a bicycle off a rack to start cycling.
5. Shortening clothes: Visualize pinning up (taking up) the hem of trousers.

These mental images can help you quickly recall the appropriate usage in different contexts.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Confusion with ‘take on’: ‘Take up’ is often confused with ‘take on’, which means to accept a challenge or responsibility. Remember, you ‘take up’ a hobby, but you ‘take on’ a difficult task.

2. Incorrect separation: When using pronouns, always separate the phrasal verb. Say “I took it up” not “I took up it.”

3. Overuse in formal writing: While ‘take up’ is versatile, some of its uses are more informal. In IELTS Writing Task 2, stick to more formal uses like “The government should take up the issue of climate change.”

4. Forgetting to change the verb form: Remember to change the verb form as needed. “I take up,” “She takes up,” “They took up,” “We have taken up.”

5. Using the wrong preposition: Don’t confuse ‘take up’ with other phrasal verbs like ‘take to’ or ‘take after’. Each has its distinct meaning.

To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘take up’ in various contexts and tenses. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in different situations. When in doubt, consult a dictionary or ask a teacher for clarification.

Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like ‘take up’ can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. Its versatility allows you to express various concepts concisely and naturally, which is crucial for achieving a high score in both the Speaking and Writing sections. Remember to practice using ‘take up’ in different contexts and tenses to internalize its usage. As you grow up in your language learning journey, incorporating such phrasal verbs will help you sound more like a native speaker and add up to your overall language proficiency. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to use ‘take up’ in your everyday conversations to reinforce your learning. With consistent effort, you’ll find that your ability to use phrasal verbs effectively will make up for any initial difficulties you may have had with English idiomatic expressions.