You can return an item by carrying it to the place or person it came from.

The idea

Take back can mean return an item to a shop or owner. In everyday speech, say take back the lamp or take the lamp back; a pronoun goes between: take it back.

Examples

  • I took the shirt back to the shop.
  • Please take the keys back to your neighbour.
  • She took it back yesterday.
  • Can we take the lamp back?
  • They are taking the books back to the library.
  • He will take back the borrowed coat tomorrow.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not say take back it: the pronoun belongs before back.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Please take ___ to the shop. (it back / back it)

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    it back

    it back places the pronoun before the particle.

  2. Choose the correct option. We ___ the shoes back yesterday. (took / taken)

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    took

    took is the past form for yesterday.

  3. Choose the correct option. Take the bag back ___ the shop. (to / from)

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    to

    to introduces the place receiving the item.

Use it today

Name an item you could return and say where you would take it.