When someone takes over, they assume control or responsibility, sometimes replacing another person.

The idea

In neutral everyday and business English, a noun can follow take over or come between the words: take over the project or take the project over. A pronoun goes between them: take it over. Use take over from to name the person replaced; the verb can also stand alone.

Examples

  • Maya will take over the project in June.
  • The new team took the café over last year.
  • The evening shift starts at six and takes over then.
  • Could you take over from me while I answer the phone?
  • The software update failed, so a technician took it over.
  • One company plans to take over its smaller rival.

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Watch out

Do not say take over it: put the object pronoun between the verb and particle. Taking over a company can mean acquiring control of it.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Please take ___ the meeting while I am away. (over / after)

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    over

    over completes the expression for assuming responsibility for the meeting.

  2. Choose the correct option. The manager handed me the schedule. I will take ___ over. (it / over it)

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    it

    it refers to the schedule and fits before over.

  3. Choose the correct option. The director left, and Sam ___ over yesterday. (took / takes)

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    took

    took places the change of responsibility in the past, as indicated by yesterday.

Use it today

Describe a duty you could take over from someone.