What Does โTake sb awayโ Mean?
โTake sb awayโ means to remove someone from a place or situation, often by force or for a specific purpose.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โTake sb awayโ is commonly used in English to describe the action of moving someone from one place to another. It can refer to situations like police officers taking a suspect away, or simply taking someone away for a vacation. Understanding the Take sb away meaning helps you use it correctly in everyday conversations and writing. This phrase is versatile and appears in many contexts, making it an important part of learning English phrasal verbs.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Take sb away (take somebody away)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1
- Short meaning: To remove or carry someone from a place or situation
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โTake sb awayโ is a separable phrasal verb because the object (sb) comes between the verb and the particle:
- Take someone away
- Example: The police took him away.
You cannot say โTake away himโ โ this is incorrect.
How to Use Take sb away?
Use โtake sb awayโ when talking about physically moving someone from one place to another, often with a sense of removal or force. It can be used in formal and informal contexts, such as legal situations, emergencies, or casual conversations about traveling or leaving a place.
It is always followed by a person as the object (sb = somebody). You can add additional information about where or why after the phrase.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using โTake sb away in a sentenceโ:
- The police took the suspect away after the investigation.
- My parents took me away to the countryside for the weekend.
- They took her away in an ambulance after the accident.
- The teacher took the disruptive student away from the classroom.
- Sometimes, a good book can take you away from your worries.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the word order or use it with the wrong object. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: Take away him immediately.
- Correct: Take him away immediately.
- Incorrect: She was taken away by the police in the wrong way.
- Correct: She was taken away by the police.
Remember, the object must go between โtakeโ and โaway.โ
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Carry sb off: Often means to remove someone quickly, sometimes by force or to rescue.
- Lead sb away: Means to guide or escort someone from a place.
- Drag sb away: Implies pulling someone forcefully from somewhere.
โTake sb awayโ is more neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. It often implies removal but not necessarily force.
Common Collocations
Here are frequent words used with โtake sb awayโ:
- Take sb away by police: arrest or detain someone.
- Take sb away in an ambulance: remove someone for medical help.
- Take sb away for a holiday: bring someone to a different place for relaxation.
- Take sb away from danger: remove someone from a risky situation.
- Take sb away to jail/prison: legally detain a person.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of take sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using the phrasal verb:
Anna: Did you see what happened at the park?
Ben: Yes, the police took that man away after the argument.
Anna: I hope everything is okay now.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โtake sb awayโ:
- The doctor ________ the injured player ________ on a stretcher.
- The teacher had to ________ the noisy student ________ from the class.
- During the festival, the police ________ several people ________ for breaking the rules.
FAQ
- Q: Can โtake sb awayโ be used in a positive way?
A: Yes, it can mean taking someone away for a pleasant trip or to keep them safe.
- Q: Is โtake sb awayโ always about force?
A: Not always. Sometimes it simply means moving someone from one place to another.
- Q: Can โtake sb awayโ be used without a person?
A: No, it requires a person as the object.
- Q: How is โtake sb awayโ different from โthrow sb awayโ?
โTake sb awayโ means to remove someone from a place; โthrow sb awayโ is incorrect and not used.
- Q: Is โtake sb awayโ separable?
Yes, the object goes between โtakeโ and โaway.โ
