Collocations are words that usually go together in English.

Here we are going to look at words that go with the word 'take' to make useful and popular expressions you will hear in social and professional contexts.

Take notes

This just means to write a record of what is being said or discussed, usually in a brief or 'shorthand' form. In a meeting, this is known as 'taking the minutes' of a meeting. Don't confuse this with 'take note' (singular), which you will find below.

Examples

• It's always very useful to take notes, in case you forget anything that was discussed.

• I had to take notes for my friend in college when he broke his arm. He couldn't write for weeks!

• I'd like someone to volunteer to take notes in today's meeting. My secretary is out today.

Take note

If you 'take note' of somebody or something, you consider them/it important enough to pay attention to, or to try and remember.

Examples

• Before I travelled to Japan, I took note of the local laws and customs.

• I must remember to take note of what time the shop closes next time I'm in there.

• Take note of how Anne deals with difficult customers. You could learn a lot from her.

Take a break

If you 'take a break', you stop doing something for a short time.

Examples

• You look exhausted! Why don't you take a break for a while? Sit down.

• We're really looking forward to taking a break next month. We've both been working so hard.

Take an exam

At the end of a course, to prove how much we have learned, we have to 'take an exam'. This just means to do (or experience) the exam, so this has the same meaning as 'sit an exam'.

Examples

• I took my first exam in Accounting today. Only 10 more to go!

• It's nearly Summer. I'll have to take my exams soon. I'm not looking forward to them.

Take a look

To 'take a look' at something usually means to investigate it closer.

Examples

• Will you please take a look at this report? I want to know if there are any mistakes in it.

• I'm pretty sure I built this machine correctly, but I wouldn't mind you taking a closer look at it for me, just to be sure.