Takes Care vs. Take Care – Which is Correct?
“Take care” and “takes care” are both correct, but they serve different grammatical purposes. Use “take care” for commands, farewells, and after plural subjects or “to.” Use “takes care” with a singular third-person subject, such as “She takes care of her brother.” The subject and sentence structure determine the choice.
Takes Care or Take Care – Which is Correct?
“Take care” and “takes care” are both correct expressions. The correct choice depends on the subject and the grammatical structure of the sentence.
Use take care with the subjects I, you, we, and they. It is also used in commands, farewells, and infinitive phrases. For example, you can say, “They take care of the garden,” “Take care!” or “She needs to take care of her health.”
Use takes care with a singular third-person subject, such as he, she, or it. For example, “Marcus takes care of his grandmother.” The word takes includes the third-person singular -s ending required in the present tense.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “he or they” test. If the subject could be replaced with he, she, or it, choose takes care. If it could be replaced with they, we, or you, choose take care.
For example: “She takes care of the dog,” but “They take care of the dog.” For a command or goodbye, use the base form: “Take care!”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| take care | Verb phrase | To be cautious, look after someone, or say goodbye | Please take care on the icy steps. |
| takes care | Third-person singular verb phrase | A singular person or thing looks after someone or handles something | My sister takes care of our pets. |
How to Use Takes Care
Takes care is the third-person singular present-tense form of the verb phrase take care. Use it when a singular subject performs the action. The phrase is most commonly followed by of and an object: “He takes care of his children.” It can mean to look after someone, manage something, or deal with a responsibility.
In some contexts, takes care can mean “is cautious,” although the expression is more often used with of. For example, “She takes care with her wording” means that she is careful about how she expresses herself.
Example 1: The nurse takes care of several patients during the night.
Example 2: Daniel takes care to check every figure before submitting the report.
Example 3: This protective case takes care of the phone’s basic safety needs.
What are the different forms of Takes Care?
Takes care is already the present-tense form used with a singular third-person subject. The base form is take care, as in “They take care of the property.” The infinitive is to take care, as in “She wants to take care of the issue.” The past tense is took care, and the participial form is taken care, usually used with an auxiliary verb: “He has taken care of the arrangements.”
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form: take care | They take care of the building. |
| Third-person singular: takes care | She takes care of the accounts. |
| Past tense: took care | He took care of the problem yesterday. |
| Past participle: taken care | The matter has been taken care of. |
Etymology of the word Takes Care
Takes care comes from the verb take combined with the noun care. Take has Old English roots and originally referred to receiving or grasping something. Care comes from an Old English word associated with concern, anxiety, attention, or responsibility. Together, take care developed meanings related to caution, protection, and responsibility.
How to Use Take Care
Take care is the base form of the verb phrase. Use it with I, you, we, and they, after the word to, and in commands. It is also a common informal farewell meaning “goodbye” or “stay safe.”
When followed by of, take care of can mean to look after a person, animal, place, or task. Without of, take care often means to be cautious: “Take care when crossing the road.”
Example 1: Please take care of the plants while I am away.
Example 2: We take care to protect customers’ personal information.
Example 3: Thanks for calling. Take care!
What are the different forms of Take Care?
Take care is the base form of the phrase. It appears with plural subjects and with I and you: “They take care of the house.” It is also used in the imperative: “Take care!” After to, use the same form: “He plans to take care of the repairs.”
Its other forms include takes care for a singular third-person subject, took care for the past tense, and taken care as the past participle. The phrase does not form a plural because it is a verb phrase rather than a countable noun.
Etymology of the word Take Care
The expression take care combines the Old English-derived verb take with care, a word connected to concern and attention. The phrase gradually came to mean being cautious, giving attention to a responsibility, or looking after someone. Its use as a parting expression developed from the idea of urging someone to remain safe.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject–verb agreement and verb forms makes the difference between take care and takes care easy to identify.
- Subject–verb agreement: In the present tense, a singular third-person subject usually requires an -s ending, as in “She takes.” Plural subjects and the pronouns I and you use the base form, as in “They take.”
- Imperative mood: Commands use the base form of a verb. Therefore, “Take care!” is correct, while “Takes care!” is not a standard command.
- Verb phrases: A verb phrase combines a verb with other words to express an action or state. Take care of is a verb phrase meaning “look after” or “handle.”
- Farewell expressions: Some everyday phrases have a social meaning in addition to their literal meaning. Take care! commonly functions as a friendly way to say goodbye.
Examples from Media and Literature
The phrase take care appears frequently in dialogue, titles, lyrics, advertising, and journalism. The following examples show how its meaning changes according to context:
- Film and television dialogue: A character may say “Take care” at the end of a phone call or before someone leaves, using it as a warm, informal farewell.
- Popular music: Take Care is the title of Drake’s 2011 studio album, where the base form functions as a memorable title and phrase.
- News writing: A report might state, “The organization takes care of displaced families,” using takes care because the singular organization is the subject.
- Fictional narration: A novel may describe a character who “takes care of his younger brother,” showing the third-person singular form in ordinary narrative prose.
- Everyday correspondence: An email may end with “Take care,” a friendly closing that is less formal than “Sincerely” but suitable for many personal and professional relationships.
Take Care Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Be careful | To act cautiously and avoid danger or mistakes. |
| Look after | To protect, supervise, or care for someone or something. |
| Attend to | To deal with a task, need, or responsibility. |
| Handle | To manage or resolve a situation. |
| Stay safe | A friendly farewell or warning expressing concern for someone’s safety. |
Takes Care Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Looks after | Cares for or supervises a person, animal, or place. |
| Cares for | Provides attention, support, or protection. |
| Manages | Controls or organizes a task, process, or responsibility. |
| Handles | Deals with or resolves a matter. |
| Attends to | Gives necessary attention to a person, need, or task. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “take care” or “takes care” correct?
Both are correct. Use take care with plural subjects, with I and you, after to, and in commands. Use takes care with a singular third-person subject such as he, she, or it.
Question 2: Is it correct to say “She take care of her child”?
No. The correct sentence is “She takes care of her child.” Because she is a singular third-person subject, the verb must have the -s ending.
Question 3: Is “Take care” a formal expression?
“Take care” is generally casual or neutral. It is common in conversation, emails, text messages, and friendly professional interactions. In highly formal writing, alternatives such as “Please remain safe” or “Best regards” may be more appropriate depending on the context.
Question 4: Should “take care of” be written as one word?
No. Take care of is a three-word verb phrase. For example, write “They take care of the children,” not “They takecare of the children.”
Conclusion
Take care and takes care are both correct, but they cannot always be substituted for each other. Choose takes care after a singular third-person subject: “He takes care of the garden.” Choose take care with plural subjects, after to, and in the farewell “Take care!” Pro Tip: Correct subject–verb agreement improves clarity and protects your professional reputation in emails, reports, and other formal communication.
