What Does “Take to doing sth” Mean?
“Take to doing sth” means to start a habit or develop a liking for a particular activity or behavior over time.
Introduction
The phrase Take to doing sth is a common English phrasal verb used to describe when someone begins to do something regularly or develops a habit. It often suggests that the person has grown fond of the activity or behavior. Understanding the Take to doing sth meaning helps learners express changes in habits or preferences naturally. This expression is useful in everyday conversations, such as talking about hobbies, routines, or new interests.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Take to doing something
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To start a habit or develop a liking for doing something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
Take to doing sth is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means you cannot separate “take to” and insert an object between them.
Pattern:
- Subject + take to + verb-ing (doing something)
- Example: She took to jogging every morning.
How to Use Take to doing sth?
You use take to doing sth when you want to say that someone has started a new habit or activity and enjoys it or continues doing it regularly. It often implies a positive change or a natural attraction to the activity.
This phrase is usually followed by a verb ending in -ing (gerund form), representing the activity taken up.
Examples
When I moved to the countryside, I took to walking in the mornings.
- He took to playing the guitar after his friend taught him.
- She quickly took to cooking new recipes during the lockdown.
- Many children take to learning languages more easily when young.
- After retiring, he took to gardening as a relaxing hobby.
These examples show Take to doing sth in a sentence with natural contexts.
Common Mistakes
People often confuse the structure or the object form when using this phrasal verb.
- Incorrect: She took to play tennis every weekend.
- Correct: She took to playing tennis every weekend.
- Incorrect: I took to the new hobby immediately.
- Correct: I took to doing the new hobby immediately.
Remember, always use the gerund (-ing form) after “take to.”
Differences / Synonyms
Take to doing sth is similar to “get into doing sth” or “start doing sth regularly.”
- Take to doing sth: Implies developing a habit or liking naturally over time.
- Get into doing sth: Suggests becoming interested or involved in something.
- Start doing sth: Simply means beginning an action, without necessarily implying a habit.
For example, “He took to running” means he developed a liking for running, while “He started running” just states when the action began.
Common Collocations
People often take to activities related to hobbies, sports, or routines. Here are some common collocations:
- Take to reading – develop a habit of reading books
- Take to exercising – start doing physical exercise regularly
- Take to painting – begin liking and doing painting
- Take to smoking – unfortunately, start smoking habitually
- Take to cooking – develop interest in preparing food
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of take to doing sth:
- Take Your Mind Off Sth
- Take Sth Lying Down
- Take Sb Into Sth
- Take The Mickey Out Of Sb
- Take Sb Away From Sth
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using take to doing sth:
Anna: Have you noticed Mark lately? He’s always outside.
Ben: Yeah, he’s taken to jogging every morning.
Anna: Really? That’s great for his health.
Ben: Definitely. He said he enjoys it now.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb:
- After moving to the city, I _______ (take) to _______ (explore) new places every weekend.
- She quickly _______ (take) to _______ (use) the new software.
- He _______ (take) to _______ (drink) coffee instead of tea.
FAQ
- Q: Can “take to doing sth” be used in past tense?
A: Yes, you can say “took to doing sth” to describe past habits.
- Q: Is “take to” separable?
A: No, “take to” is inseparable and must be followed immediately by the gerund.
- Q: Can “take to” be used with nouns?
A: Yes, but when talking about habits, it is usually followed by verb-ing.
- Q: What is the difference between “take to doing sth” and “start doing sth”?
A: “Take to doing sth” suggests developing a liking or habit, while “start doing sth” just means beginning an action.
- Q: Is “take to” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and suitable for both spoken and written English.
