What Does “Take sth into sth” Mean?
“Take sth into sth” means to consider or include something as part of a decision, process, or situation.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “Take sth into sth” is often used when talking about considering information, feelings, or facts before making a decision or forming an opinion. Understanding the Take sth into sth meaning helps learners use it correctly in speaking and writing. This phrase is common in formal and informal English, especially when discussing thoughtful actions or careful planning. By learning how to use “Take sth into sth,” you can express the idea of incorporating something important into a broader context clearly and naturally.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: take something into something
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: To consider or include something in a decision or situation
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Take sth into sth” is an inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate the verb and the preposition.
Pattern: take + object + into + object
Example: take information into account, take feelings into consideration
How to Use Take sth into sth?
You use “Take sth into sth” when you want to show that something is being considered as part of a bigger picture. It often appears with nouns like account, consideration, or effect. It is commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as business meetings, academic writing, or polite conversation.
Examples include:
- Take advice into consideration
- Take risks into account
- Take feedback into effect
Examples
When making decisions, it is important to take all factors into account. Here are some examples of Take sth into sth in a sentence:
- We need to take customer feedback into consideration before launching the product.
- The manager took the employee’s concerns into account during the meeting.
- It’s essential to take the weather conditions into account when planning the event.
- She always takes her doctor’s advice into consideration.
- They took the new data into effect in their analysis.
Common Mistakes
Some learners confuse the correct order or use incorrect prepositions. Here are examples of incorrect versus correct usage:
- Incorrect: Take into account the risks.
- Correct: Take the risks into account.
- Incorrect: Take advice on consideration.
- Correct: Take advice into consideration.
Remember, the object must come between “take” and “into.”
Differences / Synonyms
“Take sth into sth” is similar to phrases like “consider,” “include,” or “factor in.” However, the phrasal verb often emphasizes the act of formally including something in a decision or thought process.
- Consider: More general, can be used alone.
- Factor in: Similar meaning but less formal.
- Include: More neutral, not always implying thoughtful consideration.
For example, “take risks into account” means carefully think about risks before deciding, while “include risks” may simply mean listing them.
Common Collocations
We often use “Take sth into sth” with specific nouns. Here are common collocations and their meanings:
- Take something into account: To consider something when making a decision
- Take something into consideration: To think carefully about something
- Take something into effect: To apply or use something
- Take something into perspective: To view something in a broader context
- Take something into custody: To take control or responsibility, usually by police
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of take sth into sth:
Real-life Dialogue
During a team meeting, two colleagues discuss an upcoming project:
Anna: Have you taken the client’s feedback into consideration for the new design?
Mark: Yes, I took their suggestions into account and made some changes.
Anna: Great! It’s important to take their opinions into perspective to meet their needs.
Practice
Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “take sth into sth”:
- When planning your trip, you should always _______ the weather ________ account.
- We must _______ all the evidence _______ consideration before deciding.
- The company took the new regulations _______ effect last month.
FAQ
- What does “take something into account” mean? It means to consider or think about something before making a decision.
- Is “take sth into sth” separable? No, the object must stay between “take” and “into.”
- Can I use “take sth into sth” in informal English? Yes, but it is more common in formal or semi-formal contexts.
- What are common nouns used with “take sth into sth”? Common nouns are account, consideration, effect, and perspective.
- Are “take sth into account” and “consider” the same? They are similar, but “take into account” often sounds more formal.

