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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
take something out (of something)
Hello,
I said to a friend of mine once "Could you take a few plates out of the cupboard for me, please?" and she was unpleasantly surprised. When I asked what was wrong, she said "You should have said "get a few plates out, not take a few plates out." That's a horrible mistake.'' Why did she react this way? What is wrong with the use of "take" in this sentence?
Also, a person said once "Should I take out all the fish when I clean the fish tank?" and he was told off as well. Why can't we take fish out of a container/tank/etc. We can catch them, or take them out. What is wrong with that? Why does it not fit such contexts?
Thank you
I said to a friend of mine once "Could you take a few plates out of the cupboard for me, please?" and she was unpleasantly surprised. When I asked what was wrong, she said "You should have said "get a few plates out, not take a few plates out." That's a horrible mistake.'' Why did she react this way? What is wrong with the use of "take" in this sentence?
Also, a person said once "Should I take out all the fish when I clean the fish tank?" and he was told off as well. Why can't we take fish out of a container/tank/etc. We can catch them, or take them out. What is wrong with that? Why does it not fit such contexts?
Thank you
Top answer
" and she was unpleasantly surprised. '' Why did she react this way? What is wrong with the use of "take" in this sentence?
- " and she was unpleasantly surprised.
- '' Why did she react this way?
- What is wrong with the use of "take" in this sentence?
- 'Get' is a little bit more idiomatic here than 'take', probably because you are waiting for the plates, but 'take' is not wrong .
- Your friend was mistaken.
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6 Answers
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"Could you take a few plates out of the cupboard for me, please?" and she was unpleasantly surprised. When I asked what was wrong, she said "You should have said "get a few plates out, not take a few plates out." That's a horrible mistake.'' Why did she react this way? What is wrong with the use of "take" in this sentence?
'Get' is a little bit more idiomatic here
'Get' is a little bit more idiomatic here
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What if I asked someone to "take/get a few plates out right now"? Would "get" still be more idiomatic? Could you tell me why "take" is not as idiomatic?
Thank you
Thank you
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It's not always possible to know why something is idiomatic.
In very, very broad terms, perhaps 'get' sounds a little like 'bring them here' , and 'take' sounds a little like 'remove them from here'. Perhaps.
The main point is that your friend was wrong, and should not have reacte
In very, very broad terms, perhaps 'get' sounds a little like 'bring them here' , and 'take' sounds a little like 'remove them from here'. Perhaps.
The main point is that your friend was wrong, and should not have reacte
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That's probably so. People who are considered advanced learners are not supposed to make such mistakes in the first place. That's why she got so angry with me. I don't blame her, though
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I told you, it's not a mistake. It would not be unusual to hear a native speaker say that.
Your friend gets unpleasant and angry too easily, in my opinion!
Your friend gets unpleasant and angry too easily, in my opinion!
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. That's why I said "a friend".
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