The words “phrasal verbs” might be the two most disliked words for English language students, but as we say at CISL: it doesn’t have to be this way! Phrasal verbs are a great way to make your English sound “real” because they are the phrases that native speakers use. To practice, we are offering some sentences with the phrasal verb “take up.” Read the sentences first, and then try to guess their meaning. Then, scroll down to learn about the many definitions of this phrasal verb.
The many meanings of the phrasal verb “take up”
1. I took up tennis last year when I joined a club in Balboa Park. I love it!
2. I don’t know what the problem is. I’ll take it up with the manager.
3. Homework for my CAE class takes up about 1 hour of my day.
4. The pants I bought at Horton Plaza were too long, so the tailor took up about an inch.
5. I took up his offer to learn sailing. We are meeting in Mission Bay next Saturday.
Can you guess, from context, what the meanings of these sentences are? Read on to learn about their definitions.
Definitions of “take up”
1. I took up tennis last year when I joined a club in Balboa Park. I love it!
- Definition: to begin a hobby
- Example 2: I took up surfing while I was studying at CISL San Diego.
2. I don’t know what the problem is. I’ll take it up with the manager.
- Definition: to deal with a problem
- Example 2: My Internet connection was slow, so I took it up with my landlord.
3. Homework takes up about 1 hour of my day.
- Definition: use space/time
- Example 2: The Writing Module of the CAE Exam takes up 1 hour and 30 minutes.
4. The tailor took up about an inch from my pants since they were too long.
- Definition: to make something shorterÂ
- Example 2: I took up about two inches from my dress and now it’s a little too short.
5. I took up his invitation to learn sailing. We are meeting in Mission Bay next Saturday.
- Definition: accept an offer or challenge.Â
- Example 2: I took up my teacher’s challenge to learn a phrasal verb every day for 30 days.
Let’s look at the first definition of the phrasal verb take up: to begin a new hobby. What should our CISL students take up while studying English here in California? We have a list of suggestions!
Things you should TAKE UP while studying at CISL
- Surfing. You’re in California! Why not???
- Group sports: San Diego and San Francisco have many great group sports leagues
- Photography. The scenery is so beautiful, you will regret not having a camera almost every day if you leave yours at home.
- Hiking. The hills surrounding San Diego and San Francisco are waiting to be explored!
- Cooking. Visit the farmer’s markets, take a cooking class, and learn a new cuisine.
- Museum-hopping. It’s incredible how many museums San Diego and San Francisco boast!
What else will you take up while you are a CISL student?