Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition or adverb particle. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of phrasal verbs with take.
1I was taken ............... by her rude comment.
Wrong!
The phrase "taken aback" means shocked or surprised.
2The child does not take ............... either of his parents.
Wrong!
"After" is correct because "take after" means resemble someone in your family.
3If you have ten candies and take ............... six, you are left with four.
Wrong!
"Away" is correct because "take away" can mean remove or subtract something.
4The athlete's use of performance-enhancing drugs took ............... his achievements.
Wrong!
"Away from" is correct because "take away from" means make something seem less good or valuable.
5I took the shelves ............... to clean them properly.
Wrong!
"Apart" is correct because "take something apart" means separate it into pieces.
6A public outcry forced the minister to take ............... his offensive comments.
Wrong!
"Back" is correct because "take back" can mean withdraw something you said.
7Please take ............... my address and phone number.
Wrong!
"Down" is correct because "take down" can mean write information on paper.
8Don't take him ............... an idiot.
Wrong!
"For" is correct because "take someone for" means regard someone as a particular kind of person.
9I took ............... a puppy last month, and now he is my best buddy.
Wrong!
"In" is correct because "take in" can mean give a person or animal a home.
10I took ............... every word they said; it was a mesmerizing performance.
Wrong!
"In" is correct because "take in" can mean absorb or understand information.
11Although the airplane took ............... 30 minutes late, it arrived on time.
Wrong!
"Off" is correct because "take off" means leave the ground and begin to fly.
12I am too busy to take ............... any extra work.
Wrong!
"On" is correct because "take on" can mean accept extra work or responsibility.
Answers
- I was taken aback by her rude comment.
- The child does not take after either of his parents.
- If you have ten candies and take away six, you are left with four.
- The athlete’s use of performance-enhancing drugs took away from his achievements.
- I took the shelves apart to clean them properly.
- A public outcry forced the minister to take back his offensive comments.
- Please take down my address and phone number.
- Don’t take him for an idiot.
- I took in a puppy last month, and now he is my best buddy.
- I took in every word they said; it was a mesmerizing performance.
- Although the airplane took off 30 minutes late, it arrived on time.
- I am too busy to take on any extra work.