take a photo

Meaning

This expression means to capture an image using a camera or a smartphone. It is a universal, everyday phrase used when asking someone to photograph you or when you want to capture a memorable moment.

Examples

• Could you please take a photo of us in front of the museum?

  Could you please take a photo of us in front of the museum?

• I want to take a photo of this beautiful sunset.

  I want to take a photo of this beautiful sunset.

• He took a photo of his food and posted it online.

  He took a photo of his food and posted it online.

• Don't move! I am going to take a photo.

  Don't move! I am going to take a photo.

• She loves to take photos of her cat.

  She loves to take photos of her cat.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Can you make a photo of me?

  ✓ Can you take a photo of me?

  In English, we always use the verb 'take' (or sometimes 'picture'), never 'make' for photographs.

• ✗ He did a photo of the building.

  ✓ He took a photo of the building.

  Do not use 'do' to describe capturing an image; 'take' is the correct verb.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Excuse me, could you ___ of my family?

  💡 Use the base form of the verb.

  Show answer

  take a photo

• She ___ of the Eiffel Tower when she visited Paris.

  💡 Use the past tense.

  Show answer

  took a photo