Kyle took over/up the desk next to his own.

Question

Kyle took over the desk next to his over.Kyle took up the desk next to his own.Do both of the above sound right and mean about the same? Thanks.

Nef · Accepted Answer

Kyle took over the desk next to his over. Kyle took over the desk next to his. (only one over)

This means that Kyle started to use the desk next to his.

Kyle took up the desk next to his own.

(I'm not sure what this means.)

Do both of the above sound right and mean about the same? Thanks.

Angliholic · Answer

NefKyle took over the desk next to his over. Kyle took over the desk next to his. (only one over)

This means that Kyle started to use the desk next to his.

Kyle took up the desk next to his own.

(I'm not sure what this means.)

Thanks, Nef.

To make sure, the second doesn't make sense, right?

Nef · Answer

It doesn't make sense to me. (I'm in the western US. Maybe the expression is used in some other areas.)

The expression took up (something) = began or started to do (something)

Examples:

Kyle took up piano = Kyle began to play/practice/study piano.

Kyle took up golf = Kyle started to play golf.

I don't see how this expression works with the desk.

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, Nef.

Got it.

BarbaraPA · Answer

You can use "took up" to refer to space: I can't understand how such a little cat can take up so much of the bed. Hey, put your feet down! It's not fair for you to take up the entire couch!

But it doesn't read naturally with your example. Something needs to take up the space - the couch one doesn't need a thing because it's your own body.

His stuff took up his entire desk as well as the one next to it.

If "he" took up two desks, it sounds a little like he's lying across them, although the eventual meaning of simply using the space for his things would come through.

Angliholic · Answer

Grammar GeekYou can use "took up" to refer to space: I can't understand how such a little cat can take up so much of the bed. Hey, put your feet down! It's not fair for you to take up the entire couch!

But it doesn't read naturally with your example. Something needs to take up the space - the couch one doesn't need a thing because it's your own body.

His stuff took up his entire desk as well as the one next to it.

If "he" took up two desks, it sounds a little like he's lying across them, although the eventual meaning of simply using the space for his things would come through.

Thanks, GG, for this helpful explanation.

Now I know the differences between "take over and take up."

By the way, does the bolded part mean "although the meaning of simply using the space for his things would come across eventually?"

BarbaraPA · Answer

Yes, it would eventually occur to the reader what you mean. I think.

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, GG.

Got it.

CalifJim · Answer

He took over the desk: He (possibly forcibly) took control of it, displacing anyone else who may have been using it!!!

The army took over the village. This is a more usual use of the phrasal verb take over.

However, you can have, in another meaning:

He took over the desk: He assumed the duties of the job associated with that desk. desk is an abstract noun here. It refers to the job, not to the furniture. More often an adjective would be added to explain what kind of duties are involved: After several years in invoicing, he took over the sales desk.

Note also, intransitively: Irma took over while the boss was on vacation. (She assumed the boss's responsibilities while he was away.)

He took up the desk: He began to use the desk. This is a very formal and/or old-fashioned usage, and very rarely used. Similar use: The students took up their pencils and began to write. (See also GG's explanation of take up in another sense.)

CJ

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, Jim.

By the way, are the following all but identical?

The army took over the village.

The army ocuppied the village.

Kyle took over/up the desk next to his own.

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