Verbo Frasal: Take off (Quitar y Despegar)
quitar cosas, despegues y éxito rápido como un experto.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
'Take off' is a versatile phrasal verb used for removing clothes, planes leaving the ground, or a business becoming suddenly successful.
- Use it for clothing: 'Please take off your hat' or 'Take your hat off'.
- Use it for aviation: 'The plane takes off at 6 PM' (never separable here).
- Use it for success: 'Her career really took off after the movie' (intransitive).
Overview
take off es un ejemplo perfecto de esta diferencia estructural.take off literalmente como 'tomar fuera', no entenderás nada. Aquí vamos a desglosar cómo funciona, cuándo usarlo y, sobre todo, cómo evitar esos errores que nos delatan como hispanohablantes.take off, primero debemos analizar la estructura. En español, tenemos verbos pronominales como 'quitarse' o verbos intransitivos como 'despegar'. En inglés, take off actúa como una unidad semántica.off aquí funciona como un indicador de 'separación' o 'distanciamiento'. Imagínate el concepto de algo que estaba unido a una superficie (tu cuerpo, el suelo, un estado de estancamiento) y que, al aplicar off, se separa o se inicia un movimiento de alejamiento.take (tomar) pierde su significado original y se transforma totalmente al añadirle off. Es como si la partícula le diera una 'dirección' al verbo.- Cuando te quitas algo (
take off your shoes), la partículaoffindica que el objeto deja de estar en contacto con tu cuerpo. - Cuando un avión despega (
the plane takes off),offindica la separación física de la pista. - Cuando algo tiene éxito (
the business took off),offsugiere que el proyecto 'despegó' o se separó de un estado de inactividad.
take off depende de si el verbo es separable o inseparable.take + objeto + off | Separable (ropa/objetos) | Take your coat off. |take + off + objeto | Separable (opcional) | Take off your coat. |take + pronombre + off | Separable (obligatorio) | Take it off. |take off + (sin objeto) | Inseparable (despegar/irse) | The plane takes off. |it, them, me), la regla es absoluta: el pronombre debe ir entre take y off. Nunca dirás *take off it*. Es un error común porque en español decimos 'quítatelo' (todo junto).take y off.take off se divide en cuatro grandes situaciones:- 1Remover ropa o accesorios: Es el uso más común. Si llegas a una reunión en la universidad y hace calor, dices:
I need to take off my sweater. Es una acción reversible. - 2Despegue o salida rápida: Se usa para aviones, pero también para personas. Si estás en una fiesta y tienes que irte rápido, puedes decir:
I have to take off now. Es una forma muy natural de decir 'me tengo que ir' o 'me largo'. - 3Éxito repentino: Si tienes un canal de YouTube o un pequeño negocio, y de repente empieza a irte genial, dices:
My business really took off. Es una metáfora muy usada en el mundo emprendedor. - 4Días libres: Es muy común en contextos laborales.
I am taking next Friday off. Esto significa que vas a pedir el día libre. Nota que aquí el objeto (el tiempo) va en medio.
- 1El error del pronombre al final: Muchos estudiantes dicen
*take off it*por influencia del español 'quitarlo'. Recuerda: el pronombre siempre se mete en medio:take it off. - 2Confundir 'take off' con 'get off': Los hispanohablantes a menudo dicen
*I took off the bus*para decir 'me bajé del bus'. Esto es un error.Take offes para aviones o irse de un lugar, pero para bajar de un transporte público se usaget off. - 3Uso en contextos de destrucción: A veces queremos decir que quitamos algo que está pegado (como pintura vieja). Decir
*I took off the paint*suena mal porque implica que la pintura se despegó fácilmente. Para remover cosas con esfuerzo, usamosremoveoscrape off.
take off | quitarse / despegar / irse | Verbo de movimiento o cambio de estado |take out | sacar / llevar a alguien a salir | Similar a 'sacar' de un recipiente |take away | quitar / llevarse algo | Similar a 'quitar' o 'confiscar' |get off | bajarse de un transporte | Similar a 'bajarse' de un vehículo |take out.Take off suena como 'teikof'. Es normal que al principio te cueste distinguirlo, pero con el tiempo verás que la entonación cae en la partícula off.remove o depart.take a took. La partícula off nunca cambia. He took off his hat.Conjugating 'Take Off'
| Tense | Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I/You/We/They
|
take off
|
I take off my shoes.
|
|
Present Simple
|
He/She/It
|
takes off
|
The plane takes off.
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
took off
|
She took off her coat.
|
|
Present Continuous
|
All subjects
|
am/is/are taking off
|
The plane is taking off now.
|
|
Present Perfect
|
All subjects
|
have/has taken off
|
The flight has taken off.
|
|
Future
|
All subjects
|
will take off
|
It will take off soon.
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Context |
|---|---|---|
|
It is taking off
|
It's taking off
|
Aviation/Success
|
|
I am taking off
|
I'm taking off
|
Leaving/Clothes
|
|
They have taken off
|
They've taken off
|
Aviation
|
Meanings
To remove something (usually clothing) from the body, or for an aircraft to leave the ground and begin to fly.
Removing Clothing
To divest oneself of an item of clothing or an accessory.
“It was so hot that I had to take off my jacket.”
“He took his glasses off to clean them.”
Aviation/Departure
When an aircraft leaves the ground and rises into the air.
“The flight was delayed, so we didn't take off until midnight.”
“I love the feeling when the plane finally takes off.”
Sudden Success
To become successful or popular very quickly.
“The new app really took off last month.”
“Her singing career took off after she posted a video online.”
Leaving Suddenly
To leave a place in a hurry, often without telling anyone.
“He took off without saying goodbye.”
“As soon as the meeting ended, she took off for the station.”
Time Away from Work
To spend time away from your job or duties.
“I'm going to take two days off next week.”
“She took a year off to travel the world.”
Reference Table
| Significado | ¿Separable? | Ejemplo (Objeto) | Ejemplo (Pronombre) | Contexto |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Quitarse ropa/objetos
|
Sí
|
Take off your shoes
|
Take them off
|
Rutina diaria, comodidad
|
|
Despegar (avión, persona)
|
No
|
The plane took off
|
N/A
|
Viajes, salida repentina
|
|
Tener éxito/popularidad
|
No
|
Her career took off
|
N/A
|
Negocios, redes sociales
|
|
Tomarse tiempo libre
|
No
|
I'll take a day off
|
N/A
|
Equilibrio vida-trabajo
|
Espectro de formalidad
I shall depart now. (Social departure)
I'm leaving now. (Social departure)
I'm going to take off. (Social departure)
I'm gonna bounce. (Social departure)
Take Off: Significados Clave
Quitar
- Jacket Take off your jacket
- Shoes Take off your shoes
- Mask Take off your mask
Despegar
- Plane The plane takes off
- Leave I need to take off
- Rocket The rocket took off
Tener Éxito
- Business The business took off
- Career Her career took off
- Idea The idea took off
Take Off vs. Phrasal Verbs Similares
¿Debería usar 'Take Off'?
¿Estás quitándote ropa o un accesorio?
¿Está despegando un avión, cohete o persona?
¿Algo está teniendo éxito rápidamente?
Contextos para 'Take Off'
Remoción Diaria
- • Take off your jacket
- • Take off your shoes
- • Take off your glasses
Viajes y Salidas
- • The plane takes off
- • I need to take off
- • Flight takes off at 7
Éxito y Crecimiento
- • Business took off
- • Idea took off
- • Project took off
Tiempo Libre
- • Take a day off
- • Take time off
- • Took a week off
Ejemplos por nivel
Take off your shoes.
I take off my coat.
Please take off your hat.
He takes off his glasses.
The plane takes off at 10:00.
It is hot. Take it off.
We took off our boots because they were dirty.
Did the flight take off yet?
His new business really took off this year.
I'm taking Friday off to go to the beach.
The singer's career took off after the concert.
I need to take a few days off to recover.
The project really took off once we got the funding.
Sorry I took off so early last night; I was exhausted.
Sales of electric cars are expected to take off soon.
He took himself off to the countryside for some peace.
She does a brilliant take-off of her boss.
The company's valuation took off into the billions.
He took off at a gallop as soon as he saw the police.
The idea didn't really take off until the second iteration.
The satirical play was a biting take-off of Victorian values.
The aircraft's take-off roll was hampered by the crosswinds.
The sheer speed with which the trend took off caught everyone off guard.
He took himself off to a remote island to write his memoirs.
Fácil de confundir
Learners use 'take off' for things inside a bag.
Learners think they are interchangeable in all contexts.
Both involve 'off' and leaving.
Errores comunes
Take off it.
Take it off.
I take off my shoes at night.
I take off my shoes at night.
Take off the hat.
Take off your hat.
He take off his coat.
He takes off his coat.
The plane takes off it.
The plane takes off.
I took off my shoes off.
I took my shoes off.
When does the plane take off the ground?
When does the plane take off?
My business took off it.
My business took off.
I want to take off a day.
I want to take a day off.
He took off his glasses to see better.
He took off his glasses to see better.
He did a take off of the teacher.
He did a take-off of the teacher.
Patrones de oraciones
I need to take off my ___.
The plane is scheduled to take off at ___.
If I could, I would take ___ off.
Her career really took off after she ___.
Real World Usage
Flight BA123 is cleared to take off.
I'm gonna take off now, see ya!
Can I take Friday off?
You can take off your shoes in the fitting room.
Tech stocks took off after the merger.
This video is really taking off!
Regla de Colocación del Pronombre
I should take them off.
No para Transporte Público
I get off the bus, but the plane takes off.
Éxito, no solo Salida
Her career took off.
Quitarse los Zapatos en Casa
Please take your shoes off.
Distingue de 'Take Away'
take away a toy.
Smart Tips
Always put the pronoun in the middle of 'take' and 'off'.
Don't add an object after 'take off'.
Use 'take off' instead of 'go home'.
Place the specific time between 'take' and 'off'.
Pronunciación
Stress on the particle
In phrasal verbs, the stress is usually on the particle ('off'), not the verb ('take').
Linking
When 'take' is followed by 'off', the 'k' sound links to the 'o'. It sounds like 'tay-koff'.
Rising on 'off'
Did it take OFF? ↗
Asking a question about departure.
Memorízalo
Mnemotecnia
T.A.K.E. Off: To Abandon Kontakt (Contact) with Earth (for planes) or Everything (for clothes).
Asociación visual
Imagine a rocket ship blasting away from a launchpad. The rocket is 'taking off' from the ground, just like you 'take off' a sweater from your body.
Rhyme
When the plane leaves the park, it takes off in the dark. When the room gets too hot, take off what you've got!
Story
A pilot named Tom was wearing a heavy jacket. Before his plane could take off, he had to take off his jacket because the cockpit was too warm. Once he was comfortable, the plane took off and his career as a pilot really took off too!
Word Web
Desafío
Look around your room. Find three things you can 'take off' (a hat, a ring, a phone case) and say the sentence aloud: 'I am taking off my...'
Notas culturales
In many Asian cultures, taking off your shoes at the door is mandatory. In English-speaking countries, it varies by household, but the phrase 'Please take off your shoes' is the standard way to ask.
In the UK, 'to take someone off' often means to mimic or impersonate them for humor.
The term 'takeoff' is one of the most critical phases of flight. Pilots use it as a noun, while the action is the verb.
From the verb 'take' (Old Norse 'taka') and the adverb 'off' (Old English 'of').
Inicios de conversación
What time does your flight take off?
If you could take a month off work, where would you go?
Has a hobby of yours ever really taken off?
Why do you think some apps take off while others fail?
Temas para diario
Errores comunes
Test Yourself
The plane will ___ at 3 PM.
Find and fix the mistake:
My jacket is too warm, I'll take off it.
Choose the correct sentence:
Score: /3
Ejercicios de practica
8 exercisesThe plane ___ two hours late because of the snow.
Your shoes are dirty. Please ___.
Find and fix the mistake:
The new restaurant really took off it last month.
off / I / my / took / jacket
Quítatelo (referring to a hat).
1. Plane, 2. Shoes, 3. Business
I'm tired.
We watched the plane ___ into the sunset.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesPlease ___ your hat when you enter the church.
I need to take off for vacation next month.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Tira tu mascarilla por favor.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the actions with what you'd `take off`.
I'm feeling much better after `taking` a few days ___ from work.
When the police arrived, the suspect took very fast off.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Espero que mi nuevo negocio despegue pronto.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the scenario with the meaning of `take off`.
Score: /12
Preguntas frecuentes (8)
No. It is separable when it means 'to remove clothing' or 'to take time off'. It is **intransitive** (not separable) when it means 'a plane departing' or 'becoming successful'.
It's better to say 'The plane took off **from** the runway.' Usually, we just say 'The plane took off.'
'Take off' is more common and informal, especially for clothes. 'Remove' is formal and used for things like stains or medical procedures.
Yes, but it's informal. 'I'm going to take off now' means 'I'm going to leave now.'
Put the time in the middle: 'I took **three days** off.'
As a verb, it is two words: 'The plane will **take off**.' As a noun, it is one word: 'The **takeoff** was smooth.'
Yes! 'The shopkeeper took $10 off the price.'
For clothes, the opposite is 'put on'. For planes, the opposite is 'land'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Quitarse / Despegar
English 'take off' covers both removal and departure.
Enlever / Décoller
French does not use a phrasal structure.
Ausziehen / Abheben
German uses different base verbs (ziehen vs. heben).
Nugu (脱ぐ) / Ririku (離陸)
Japanese requires learning two unrelated words.
Khala'a (خلع) / Iqla'a (إقلاع)
No shared root between the two meanings.
Tuō (脱) / Qǐfēi (起飞)
Chinese uses descriptive compounds rather than phrasal verbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Videos relacionados
09:20 Is this the future of thrifting?
09:45 Sweet Tea Ribs | Food Wishes
Phrasal Verb TAKE OFF: ¡Todos sus significados explicados!
Clases de Inglés con Lucy
Aprende TAKE OFF: Quitar, Despegar, Triunfar | Phrasal Verbs Esenciales
Inglés Paso a Paso
Cómo usar TAKE OFF: Significados y Ejemplos Prácticos
Learn English with Cris
Related Grammar Rules
El Phrasal Verb 'Face up to' (Aceptar la realidad)
Overview Este verbo frasal trata sobre el cambio mental de la evitación al reconocimiento. Se refiere específicamente a...
Preposiciones de tiempo: in, on, at
Overview ¿Alguna vez has enviado un mensaje diciendo que llegarás `in` 5 PM y has recibido un emoji de confusión? Las pa...
¡Espera un segundo! Usando 'Hold on'
### Overview El verbo compuesto `hold on` es una de esas piezas clave del inglés que, aunque parece sencilla, esconde m...
Vestirse: Ropa Formal y Disfraces (Dress up)
### Overview Dominar los *phrasal verbs* es, sin duda, uno de los mayores retos y, a la vez, una de las mayores satisfa...
Verbos Frasales en Inglés: Guía para Principiantes
### Overview Los *phrasal verbs* (verbos compuestos o frasales) son, sin duda, uno de los aspectos más característicos...
