Take verses Get

Question

Hi Everyone,One of my students asked me a question earlier this evening about the difference between 'take' and 'get'.This was a - side track issue. Given I hadn't prepared anything in relation to this topic, I went about using my logic to explain, but I know there's more to it.Is there any particular rule as to when you'd use each word?For example:We say, 'I'm going to get a coffee', not 'I'm going to take a coffee'.Why?This is a curly one if you ask me.Thanks,Cup Cake

Wilpeter · Accepted Answer

Take something warm to wear. I’m going to get a jacket. Take a break, you look tired. You need to get out more! I’m going to take a nap. Take a cookie, they’re free. I’ll getting fat eating free food. Get lost, why don’t you?! If I take a wrong turn I’ll get lost.
Get implies obtaining it from somewhere else. Take implies it is here. Take can also imply a sense of theft unless permission is obviously given. Take is usually deliberate, where get is not necessarily so.
If someone offers you a coffee, take it. If you initiate the quest for a coffee, go get it.

Anonymous · Answer

wilpeterTake a break, you look tired.

wilpeterI’m going to take a nap.

In American English, 'take' is used. In British English, 'have' would be used. It's explained in part 2 of the article here http://www.onestopenglish.com/grammar/grammar-reference/american-english-vs-british-english/differences-in-american-and-british-english-grammar-article/152820.article

Fivejedjon · Answer

Anonymous In American English, 'take' is used. In British English, 'have' would be used.

Perhaps you should have a look at https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=take+a+nap%2Chave+a+nap%2Ctook+a+nap%2Chad+a+nap%2Ctakes+a+nap%2Ctook+a+nap%2Ctaking+a+nap%2C+having+a+nap&year_start=1800&year_end=2000&corpus=18&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Ctake%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Chave%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ctook%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Chad%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ctakes%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ctook%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ctaking%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Chaving%20a%20nap%3B%2Cc0 before you makes such sweeping statements. 'Take a nap' is quite common in BrE.

Anonymous · Answer

Take is normally used in American English and have is normally used in British English.

Clive · Answer

I know this comment is a bit stereotypical, but I think there is some truth in it.

Waiter: Are you ready to order?

Common British response: I'll have a cheeseburger, please.

Common American response: I'll take a cheeseburger.

CalifJim · Answer

CliveAmerican response: I'll take a cheeseburger.

I don't believe I've ever heard it. Is it something the younger generation are using? I say 'have' and I assure you I'm not British.

CJ

Ivanhr · Answer

My personal impression (as a non-native speaker) is that when both get and take mean to come into possession of something, take, unlike get, can suggest that something is obtained by force.

One exception is a situation when you get to choose between two or more things, in which case only take is possible.

CalifJim · Answer

Cup cakedifference between 'take' and 'get'

That's a whopping big subject. Off-hand, without thinking about it much, I'd say that taking is using your hand(s) to pick something up and draw it toward you, but getting is using your legs (or car) to go somewhere and then take something — at least in their more literal meanings.

Someone holds out a tray of appetizers. They say, "Take one", not "Get one".
I'm watching TV in the family room. I want a glass of water from the kitchen, so I get it, not take it.

The problem is that there are hundreds of non-literal meanings for those words. 'take' can also mean 'steal'. It can also mean 'transport'. 'get' can also mean 'receive' or 'understand'. And so on, and so forth.

In your coffee example I would need more information about the exact situation. Am I sitting at home thinking about driving to Starbucks? (thinking about getting coffee) Am I thinking about preparing the coffee myself at home? (making coffee) Am I in a restaurant trying to decide what to order? (thinking about getting coffee) Is the waiter asking me what I want? (I'll have coffee.) Is there an extra cup of coffee sitting on a counter in a coffee shop which is being offered to me free because someone left it behind by mistake? (OK. I'll take the coffee.) Is someone going to be giving me a bag of coffee beans? (I'll be getting coffee.) Am I complaining how I don't understand what people like about coffee? (I just don't get 'coffee'.) Am I complaining about how coffee gives me indigestion? (I just can't take coffee.)

CJ

Cup cake · Answer

One exception is a situation when you get to choose between two or more things, in which case only take is possible.

Hi Ivanhr,
Can you please give an example sentence for this?
Thanks.

Cup cake · Answer

Hi wilpeter,

Phew...

that's exactly how I explained the difference to my class.

I often worry that there's a rule I've missed somewhere. I hate not knowing the whole story.
Thanks so much.

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