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What is Take over in English? Usage and exercises Take over in English

When you encounter the phrase "take over in English," you're dealing with one of the most versatile and powerful phrasal verbs in the language. This essential expression appears across countless conversations, from boardroom discussions to casual everyday exchanges, making it crucial for anyone seeking to communicate with precision and authority.





The most accurate usage of Take over in English!
The most accurate usage of Take over in English!

I. What is Take over in English?

What is take over in English? According to Cambridge Dictionary and Oxford Learner's Dictionary, take over meaning functions as a phrasal verb: to start doing a job or being responsible for something that another person did or had responsibility for before; to get control of a company by buying enough of the shares in it. Understanding the take over phrasal verb meaning is essential for mastering English communication. For example:

  • Alex will take over from the leader position next week.

  • The company he works for has recently been taken over.

What is Take over in English?
What is Take over in English?

II. How to Use "Take Over" Correctly: Grammar Essentials

How to use the structure of Take over in English
How to use the structure of Take over in English

1. Is "Take Over" Separable? Understanding Phrasal Verb Structure

Object Type

Correct Usage

Incorrect Usage

Example

Noun Object

"Take over the business" OR "Take the business over"

N/A (both are correct)

"She took over the company" / "She took the company over"

Pronoun Object

"Take it over"

"Take over it"

"The new CEO will take it over"

No Direct Object

"Take over" (inseparable)

N/A

"When will you take over?"

The separability of "take over in English" depends entirely on context and the presence of direct objects in your sentence structure. When using this phrasal verb with a noun as the direct object, you have the flexibility to place the object either between "take" and "over" or after the complete phrase, both arrangements being grammatically correct.

2. Prepositions That Work With "Take Over"

Explore the common structure of take over in English through these examples:

Structure / Prepositional Phrase

Purpose

Example

Usage Notes

Take over something

Indicates taking control/responsibility for something

The new management team decided to take over the project.

Common in business/project contexts

Take over from somebody

Identifies who/what is being replaced

Maria took over from John as department head. Mark decided to retire, and Sarah will take over from him as the new manager.

Emphasizes the predecessor

Take over as something

Specifies the new role or position

She took over as CEO after the merger. After years of hard work, Anna finally took over as the CEO of the company.

Highlights the new position acquired

Take over for somebody

Indicates temporary replacement

I'll take over for you while you're on vacation.

Suggests a temporary arrangement

III. Idioms combined with Take over in English

Below are some idioms combined with take over in English:

Idioms combined with Take over in English

Meaning

Example

Take (over) the helm

to start to officially control an organization or company

When the CEO resigned, Mathew had taken over the helm of the company. 

Take your time (over something)

to do something too slowly

You can take your time over the project. 

Take trouble over/ with something

to invest a lot of time, attention, or effort into something

Linda always takes great trouble over her presentations

Take (great) pains with/ over something

to try very hard to so something

The artist took great pains with every detail of the painting. 

Take somebody to task (for/ over something)

to criticize or speak angrily to someone for something that they have done wrong

The manager took the employee to task for not completing the project on time.

Take issue with somebody (about/ on/ over something)

to disagree strongly

I took issue with my colleague about the way the project was managed. 

Idioms combined with Take over in English
Idioms combined with Take over in English

IV. "Take Over": Synonyms to Expand Your Vocabulary

Understanding take over meaning becomes clearer when you explore these synonyms:

  • Assume responsibility
    Meaning: Accept duty or obligation
    Example: The new manager will assume responsibility for the entire sales team.

  • Succeed
    Meaning: Follow after someone in a position
    Example: She will succeed her mentor as the lead researcher.

  • Inherit
    Meaning: Receive position through succession
    Example: He inherited the family business when his father retired.

  • Preside
    Meaning: Take charge of meetings or organizations
    Example: The committee chair will preside over tomorrow's board meeting.

  • Acquire
    Meaning: Purchase or gain control of assets
    Example: The corporation plans to acquire three smaller companies this year.

  • Merge with
    Meaning: Combine operations with another entity
    Example: The two banks decided to merge with each other for greater efficiency.

  • Buy out
    Meaning: Purchase all shares or ownership
    Example: Investors decided to buy out the struggling restaurant chain.

  • Dominate
    Meaning: Exercise controlling influence over
    Example: Social media began to dominate their daily conversations.

  • Engulf
    Meaning: Surround completely or overwhelm
    Example: The wildfire threatened to engulf the entire forest preserve.

  • Supplant
    Meaning: Replace or take the place of
    Example: Digital photography supplanted traditional film processing methods.

V. Exercises on Take over in English with answers

To gain a better understanding of take over in English, please complete the exercises provided below!

1. Exercise

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer:

  1. The assistant manager will __________ when the director leaves.
    a. take over
    b. took over
    c. taking over

  2. They __________ the company’s finances last quarter.
    a. take over
    b. took over
    c. taken over from

  3. She didn’t want to __________ the project halfway through.
    a. take over
    b. take it over
    c. takes over from

  4. Henry __________ the role of supervisor after Rachel resigned.
    a. took over as
    b. took over from
    c. took over to

  5. They __________ the failing factory and made it profitable.
    a. took over
    b. taken over
    c. had taken over

  6. Do you know who will be __________ operations soon?
    a. take over
    b. took over
    c. taking over

  7. Eleanor __________ from Jack as head of marketing in May.
    a. take over
    b. took over
    c. taking over

  8. Kevin __________ director of the agency last year.
    a. take over as
    b. took over as
    c. taking over as

  9. The new leader promised to __________ the reforms by next quarter.
    a. take over
    b. took over
    c. taking over

  10. Olivia has __________ the logistics team during the busy season.
    a. taken over
    b. took over
    c. taking over

Exercise 2: Write the suitable idioms combined with take over in English in the blanks (conjugate the verbs if any):

  1. After the manager left unexpectedly, Rachel had to __________ the project team without much preparation.

  2. Don’t rush — just __________ your time over each section of the presentation.

  3. He always __________ trouble with his appearance before public events.

  4. The artist __________ great pains with every stroke of the brush on the final piece.

  5. The editor __________ the intern to task for missing multiple deadlines.

  6. Mark __________ issue with the proposed changes to the budget.

  7. During the flight emergency, the co-pilot had to __________ control of the aircraft.

  8. Be sure to __________ your time over the paperwork and double-check the figures.

  9. She __________ trouble with the decorations to make sure they matched the theme perfectly.

  10. The engineer __________ great pains with the final adjustments before launch.

2. Answer

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

  1. a

  2. b

  3. a

  4. a

  5. a

  6. c

  7. b

  8. b

  9. a

  10. a

  1. took over

  2. take over

  3. takes over

  4. takes over

  5. took over

  6. took over

  7. took over

  8. take over

  9. takes over

  10. takes over

The concept of taking over inherently suggests temporality, reminding us that all positions of control require current leaders to balance immediate effectiveness with long-term sustainability. Through consistent practice and application, you'll find that "take over in English" becomes an indispensable tool for expressing complex ideas about control, transition, and responsibility with clarity and precision that serves you well across all communication contexts. Mastering the take over phrasal verb meaning will significantly enhance your English communication skills and professional vocabulary.

Chloe
Product Content Admin

Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.

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