I forgot to take

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I forgot to take" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing that you did not remember to bring or collect something that was needed or intended. Example: "I forgot to take my umbrella when I left the house, and now I'm soaked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

The MAQ is a reliable and valid self-report questionnaire which measures whether patients (i) forgot to take their medication, (ii) were careless in taking them, (iii) stopped drug-intake when they felt better or (iv) stopped medication when they felt worse.

BMC Family Practice

"I forgot to take the monitor along".

The New York Times

But I forgot to take Sarah Palin into account.

The New York Times

Oh, I forgot to take it out of the fridge!

The New Yorker

Was that the class I forgot to take?

The New Yorker

I had a hangover and I forgot to take snacks.

The Guardian - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Except when I forget to take out the metal clips I use to keep my hair in place while I let it dry.

The New York Times

Milton Berle once summed it up for many of us: "I have a photographic memory, but once in a while I forget to take off the lens cap".

The New York Times - Health

And it's always when I forget to take the pills.' The first was last year, when he was in a recording studio, luckily very near his house in Ladbroke Grove, west London, and felt peculiar.

The Guardian - Film

"Sometimes I forget to take images because it's so nice to explore".'.

Vice

I get him back every time I forget to take his gym clothes out of the washer and he smells like mildew all week.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I forgot to take", ensure the context clearly indicates what was forgotten. Be specific to avoid ambiguity. For example, "I forgot to take my keys" is clearer than "I forgot to take it".

Common error

Avoid using the present tense "I forget to take" when referring to a past event. "I forgot to take" correctly indicates that the act of forgetting happened in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I forgot to take" functions as a declarative statement expressing a past action of unintentional omission. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common way to convey that one failed to remember to bring or collect something. The examples show diverse objects that were forgotten.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I forgot to take" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase expressing a past unintentional omission. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media sources and serves to explain or justify a situation arising from forgetfulness. While generally neutral in register, it's important to use it with specific context to avoid ambiguity. Remember to use "forgot" (past tense) instead of "forget" when referring to a past event. Consider alternatives like "I neglected to take" or "I failed to take" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I didn't remember to take

Directly states the lack of recall, focusing on memory.

I neglected to take

Emphasizes a lack of attention or care leading to the omission.

It slipped my mind to take

Highlights the unintentional nature of forgetting, implying a temporary lapse in memory.

I failed to take

Highlights the lack of success in remembering or managing to take something.

I didn't bring

A more straightforward way to express the absence of something due to forgetfulness.

I omitted to take

Suggests an unintentional leaving out of something that should have been included.

I missed taking

Focuses on the opportunity to take something being lost.

I overlooked taking

Indicates that the action of taking was missed due to not noticing or paying attention.

I forgot to grab

Focuses on the action of quickly obtaining something, which was then forgotten.

I left behind

Emphasizes the physical act of leaving something at a previous location.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I forgot to take"?

You can use alternatives like "I neglected to take", "I failed to take", or "I didn't remember to take" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I forget to take" instead of "I forgot to take"?

No, "I forget to take" implies a habitual action of forgetting, while "I forgot to take" refers to a specific instance in the past. Use "I forgot to take" when describing a past event.

How to use "I forgot to take" in a sentence?

You can use "I forgot to take" followed by the object you forgot. For example, "I forgot to take my lunch to work today" or "I forgot to take the book back to the library."

What's the difference between "I forgot to take" and "I didn't take"?

"I forgot to take" implies that you intended to take something but failed to remember. "I didn't take" simply states that you did not take something, without necessarily implying forgetfulness. The first expresses an involuntary action, the second a voluntary or involuntary one.