What Does “Take sth into account” Mean?
“Take sth into account” means to consider or remember something when making a decision or judgment.
Introduction
The phrase “take sth into account” is a common English expression used to show that someone is thinking about important information before making a choice. The “sth” stands for “something,” which means you include a fact, idea, or situation in your thoughts. Understanding the take sth into account meaning helps learners use the phrase naturally in conversations and writing. This phrase is useful when you want to explain that certain factors or details affect your decision or opinion. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a versatile expression for everyday English.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: take something into account
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Meaning: to consider something when making a decision
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Take sth into account” is a transitive phrasal verb. It is inseparable, which means you cannot insert words between its parts. You must keep the phrase together without changing the order.
Pattern:
- Subject + take + something + into account
- Example: She takes all opinions into account.
Examples
- We need to take the weather into account before planning the trip.
- When deciding the budget, they take the costs into account.
- Teachers always take students’ needs into account when preparing lessons.
- He didn’t take my advice into account, so the project failed.
- It’s important to take cultural differences into account during negotiations.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: Please take into account the prices.
Correct: Please take the prices into account. - Incorrect: She took into account everything.
Correct: She took everything into account.
Remember: You must include the object (something) between “take” and “into account.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include:
- Consider: A simpler verb meaning to think about something carefully. Example: “Consider the options.”
- Bear in mind: Means to remember or keep something in mind. Example: “Bear in mind the deadlines.”
- Factor in: Means to include something as a factor in a decision. Example: “Factor in the extra costs.”
Difference: “Take sth into account” is more formal than “bear in mind” and often used in written or formal speech. “Consider” is more general and can replace “take into account” in many cases.
Common Collocations
- take costs into account
- take risks into account
- take opinions into account
- take needs into account
- take factors into account
- take consequences into account
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of take sth into account:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: We should decide the venue for the meeting soon.
Ben: Yes, but we need to take the number of attendees into account.
Anna: Good point. Also, let’s take the budget into account before booking.
Ben: Agreed. That way, everything will be planned perfectly.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “take into account”:
- When planning a holiday, you should always _______ the weather _______.
- She didn’t _______ my opinion _______ during the meeting.
- It’s important to _______ all risks _______ before investing.
FAQs
- What does “take sth into account” mean? It means to consider or think about something when making a decision.
- Is “take sth into account” formal or informal? It is mostly used in formal or neutral contexts but can be used in everyday speech too.
- Can I say “take into account” without an object? No, you must include the object (something) between “take” and “into account.”
- What is a simple synonym for “take sth into account”? “Consider” or “bear in mind” are good synonyms.
- Is “take sth into account” separable? No, it is inseparable. The phrase must stay together with the object in the middle.
