take after
/teɪk ˈæftər/
Meaning
This phrasal verb means to resemble an older relative in appearance, behavior, character, or personality. It is most commonly used to compare children to their parents or grandparents.
Examples
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He really takes after his father with his love for music.
He really takes after his father with his love for music.
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She takes after her grandmother in her artistic talents.
She takes after her grandmother in her artistic talents.
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I think my son takes after me; he is very stubborn.
I think my son takes after me; he is very stubborn.
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Do you take after your mother or your father more?
Do you take after your mother or your father more?
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She has her dad's eyes, but she takes after her mom in personality.
She has her dad's eyes, but she takes after her mom in personality.
Common Mistakes
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✗ He takes after to his father.
✓ He takes after his father.
'Take after' does not require the preposition 'to'. The object directly follows the word 'after'.
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✗ He is taking after his mother.
✓ He takes after his mother.
Because 'take after' describes a permanent state of resemblance, it is usually used in the simple present tense rather than the continuous tense.
Related Expressions
Practice
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With that quick temper, you definitely ___ your grandfather.
💡 Resemble in character.
Show answer
take after
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Both kids seem to ___ their mother when it comes to sports.
💡 Inherit traits or abilities from.
Show answer
take after