Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No substitution’. Some children surprisingly take on their grandparents in appearance.
take after
Understanding the Sentence and the Underlined Segment
The original sentence is: "Some children surprisingly take on their grandparents in appearance."
The underlined segment is "take on". We need to determine if this phrase is used correctly in this context and, if not, find the most appropriate substitute from the given options.
Analyzing the Meaning of 'Take On'
The phrasal verb "take on" has several meanings, but common ones include:
- To agree to be responsible for something, such as a task or job. (e.g., "She decided to take on the role of team leader.")
- To fight against or compete against someone or something. (e.g., "The small company decided to take on the market leader.")
- To employ someone. (e.g., "The company is taking on new staff.")
- To acquire a particular quality or appearance; to begin to have a particular quality or appearance. (e.g., "The chameleon took on the colour of the leaf." or "His voice took on a serious tone.")
In the sentence, the phrase "take on" is used in relation to children resembling their grandparents in appearance. While one meaning is to acquire an appearance, it's not the standard or most natural idiom used to express familial resemblance.
Identifying the Correct Idiom for Resemblance
The idiom commonly used to express that someone resembles a parent or ancestor in appearance, character, or habits is "take after".
- Take after: To resemble a parent or ancestor. (e.g., "She takes after her mother in her love for music." or "He takes after his grandfather in appearance.")
Comparing "take on" (in the sense of acquiring an appearance) and "take after" (meaning to resemble a family member), "take after" is the precise and appropriate idiom for indicating that children look like their grandparents.
Evaluating the Options
Let's examine each option provided:
-
taking after
This is the gerund or present participle form of "take after". While "taking after" is a valid phrase, the original sentence uses the base form "take" ("take on"). The structure "Some children surprisingly take..." requires the base form "take", not "taking". So, this option is grammatically incorrect in this sentence structure.
-
take later
The phrase "take later" is not a standard idiom or phrasal verb meaning resemblance. It simply means to do something at a later time. This does not fit the context of the sentence at all.
-
No substitution
As discussed, the phrase "take on" is not the appropriate idiom to express familial resemblance. Therefore, a substitution is needed, and this option is incorrect.
-
take after
This is the correct idiom meaning to resemble a parent or ancestor. It fits the grammatical structure of the sentence ("Some children surprisingly take...") using the base form "take". This option accurately conveys the intended meaning that children resemble their grandparents in appearance.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis of the idioms and the sentence structure, the most appropriate substitution for "take on" is "take after". The correct sentence becomes "Some children surprisingly take after their grandparents in appearance."
| Phrase | Meaning | Appropriate for Sentence? |
|---|---|---|
| take on | To undertake, fight, employ, acquire a quality (not standard for familial resemblance) | No |
| taking after | Resembling a family member (gerund form) | No (doesn't fit sentence structure) |
| take later | Do something at a later time | No |
| take after | Resembling a family member | Yes |
Revision Table: Common "Take" Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| take after | To resemble a parent or ancestor | He really takes after his father. |
| take off | To remove (clothing); to leave the ground (plane); to become successful; to leave quickly | She took off her coat. The plane took off on time. His career took off. |
| take out | To remove; to go on a date with someone; to get a loan; to kill/destroy | Please take out the trash. He took her out to dinner. She took out a mortgage. |
| take up | To start a hobby/activity; to occupy time/space | He decided to take up painting. This sofa takes up too much space. |
| take over | To gain control of something | The new manager will take over next week. |
| take in | To understand; to deceive; to provide accommodation; to make clothes narrower | I couldn't take in all the information. She was taken in by the scam. They took in a lodger. The dress needs to be taken in. |
Additional Information: Idioms for Resemblance
Besides "take after", there are other ways to express resemblance, though "take after" is specifically for resembling family members.
- Look like: To have a similar appearance to someone or something. (e.g., "You look like your sister.")
- Resemble: To be like or similar to someone or something. (e.g., "He resembles his mother.")
- Be the spitting image of: To look exactly like someone. (Often used for family members) (e.g., "He's the spitting image of his dad!")
- Run in the family: To be a common characteristic or trait within a family. (e.g., "Musical talent runs in the family.")
Understanding these different phrases helps in choosing the most precise word or idiom to convey meaning accurately in English.
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