This week, we received the
same question from a fan in Italy and another in Brazil. But, we are sure the
question is shared by even more English learners. So let’s answer it!
the same: la misma;
a fan: un/a seguidor/a; is shared: es compartida; by even more
learners: por muchos más estudiantes; so let's answer it: así que
vamos a responderla;
Question:
Could I know the different meanings of TAKE and GET?
Thanks – Bruna, Italy.
different
meanings: diferentes significados;
Hello. Good Evening...
I would like to know the
difference between the words GET and TAKE? And how can I use them in a
sentence? – Arthur, Brazil.
how
can I use them: cómo puedo utilizarlas;
Answer:
Dear Bruna and Arthur. Thanks for writing to us.
The main difference between these two words concerns ‘who’ is performing the
action.
Thanks
for + ING verb: gracias por + verbo en GERUNDIO; writing TO us:
escribirnos (writing US
no es correcto); main: principal; concerns "who": le compete a
"quién"; is performing: está ejecutando;
OVERALL
DIFFERENCE
GET and TAKE are verbs.
(1) GET means to gain
possession of something. Another word for GET is "obtain". The word “receive” can
also sometimes substitute for GET.
overall
difference: diferencia general; means: significa; to gain
possession: tomar posesión; obtain: obtener, conseguir; receive:
recibir;
Ellen got the new bike on her birthday.
Ellen recibió la
bicicleta nueva en su cumpleaños.
(2) TAKE means “to move or
carry something from one place to another”.
to move
or carry: mover o trasladar;
Ellen takes her new
bike everywhere she needs to go.
Ellen lleva su bicicleta
nueva a todos lados donde necesita ir.
TAKE often suggests to
gain possession of something by force, illegally or unfairly. Then it is similar
to verbs like “seize” and “capture”.
by force:
por la fuerza; illegally: ilegalmente; unfairly: injustamente;
seize: apoderarse de; capture: capturar, confiscar;
The military took control of the country after the soldiers rebelled.
El ejército tomó el
control de país después de que los soldados se rebelaron..
TAKE
TAKE is also often used
more idiomatically, as well, in providing directions to a place. For example:
more
idiomatically: de forma más idiomática; as well: asimismo; in
providing directions: para dar instrucciones; to a place: para llegar
a un lugar determinado;
JACK’s store is on Robbins Road. Take 4th St. for a mile and
you will see it.
La tienda Jack está sobre
calle Robbins. Sigue una milla por Calle 4 y la verás.
In that case,TAKE means
“use” or “follow”.
in that case:
en ese caso; use: usar, utilizar; follow: seguir;
Confusingly, TAKE can also be used similar to the verb “give”, like in this sentence:
confusingly: confusamente; give: dar, hacerse cargo de; like:
como;
Michael takes care of Jennifer’s dog.
Michael cuida al perro de
Jennifer.
In that case, the speaker
means Michael is the person responsible for meeting the dog’s needs. He is the
caregiver to the dog.
responsible
FOR meeting: responsable de atender (responsible
OF no es correcto);
the dog's needs: las necesidades del perro; caregiver TO the dog:
cuidador del perrro (caregiver
OF the dog no es
correcto);
Finally, TAKE is often
used in connection with expressions of time. For example:
finally:
por último; in connection with: econexión con;
Ellie takes 30 minutes to get ready for work.
Ellie tarda 30 minutos en
prepararse para trabajar.
That sentence has the
exact same meaning as “Ellie spends 30 minutes to get ready for work”.
takes 30
minutes = spends 30 minutes: tarda o demora 30 minutos;
GET
GET also is common to
idiomatic expressions. It often substitutes for the verbs “understand” and
“know”. Listen to this sentence:
substitutes FOR: sustituye a (substitutes
TO no es correcto);
understand: entender, comprender; know: saber, conocer;
I get that we have to learn math but I do not like it.
Entiendo que tenemos que
aprender matemáticas pero no me gusta.
Sometimes that usage
clearly suggests a speaker’s impatience or frustration.
usage:
uso gramatical; clearly suggests: sugiere claramente; speaker's
impatience or frustration: la impaciencia o frustración de quien habla;
“I get it, Mom! I have
to clean my room today”.
"¡Lo entiendo, mamá!
Tengo que limpiar mi cuarto".
Finally, GET is a common
substitute for verbs “feel”, “become”, or “start,” among others. Here are some
examples:
feel:
sentir; become: transformarse; start: comenzar, arrancar; among
others: entre otros;
I’m going to leave for
lunch when I get hungry.
Me iré a almorzar cuando tenga hambre.
She gets sad on rainy
days.
Ella se pone triste en los días de lluvia.
He left the show when
the music got loud.
Él dejó el show cuando la
música se puso alta.
OTHER USES
There are many more
idiomatic uses of GET and TAKE. Look for them whenever you get to practice
your English! We are sure to take up the subject again.
look for them:
búscalos; whenever: cada vez que; you get to practice: necesites
practicar; we are sure to take up: con seguridad abordaremos; the
subject again: nuevamente este tema.
And that’s a Teacher
for this week. I’m Jill Robbins. And I’m Gregory Stachel.
