forgotten to take

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forgotten to take" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has failed to remember to bring or acquire something. Example: "I realized I had forgotten to take my umbrella when I saw the dark clouds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But I had forgotten to take a bag.

The New York Times - Magazine

They said I may have forgotten to take my insulin.

The New York Times

She had forgotten to take her handbag off her shoulder.

The New York Times

I then realized I had forgotten to take the hairnet off.

The New York Times

He was tired, he told her, and had forgotten to take a book to read.

The New Yorker

Just as well: I would have forgotten to take the nozzle off and suffocated myself.

The New York Times

Patients, for ­example, would often not admit to having forgotten to take their medication, he says.

The Guardian

He has, on occasion, taken the wrong drugs or forgotten to take them.

The Guardian

In an interview I saw, you said you'd forgotten to take gloves with you and were having to use socks.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Looking at her arm, the woman kindly told her new doctor that he had forgotten to take off the tourniquet.

The New York Times - Health

It has been in his hand for five minutes, but he has forgotten to take a match to it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forgotten to take" to describe unintentional omissions, contrasting it with intentional actions like "chose not to take" for greater precision.

Common error

While both phrases are similar, using "forgot to take" is generally more common and natural in everyday conversation. "Forgotten to take" might sound slightly more formal or emphasize the completed state of forgetting, but stick to "forgot to take" for casual writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forgotten to take" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a past action that was unintentionally omitted. As Ludwig shows, the structure is commonly used to express that someone failed to remember to bring or acquire something, or to perform an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "forgotten to take" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that indicates an unintentional omission of an action. As Ludwig's analysis shows, its primary function is to convey oversight or negligence. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Science contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While semantically similar alternatives like "neglected to take" or "failed to take" exist, "forgotten to take" remains a clear and versatile choice for expressing unintentional omissions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forgot to bring

Simpler version, still conveys the idea of failure to remember an action.

didn't remember to take

Directly states the lack of recall in performing the action.

neglected to take

Emphasizes a lack of attention or care in remembering to take something.

failed to take

Highlights the lack of success in taking something, often implying a negative consequence.

omitted to take

Formally indicates something was left out or not included.

missed taking

Highlights the action of taking was missed.

overlooked taking

Suggests the action of taking was missed due to being unseen or unnoticed.

left behind

Indicates an item was unintentionally abandoned.

I didn't bring

Simple and clear way of stating you didn't remember to bring something

I left it behind

Simple and clear way of stating you forgot to bring something.

FAQs

What's the difference between "forgotten to take" and "forgot to bring"?

While similar, "forgotten to take" implies neglecting an action, like taking medication. "Forgot to bring" means you didn't remember to carry something with you.

How can I rephrase "forgotten to take" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using "neglected to take" or "failed to take". These options emphasize a lack of attention or a failure in responsibility.

Is it correct to say "I had forgotten to take"?

Yes, "I had forgotten to take" is grammatically correct. It uses the past perfect tense, indicating that the act of forgetting occurred before another point in the past.

What are common things people might forget to take?

People commonly forget to take medications, keys, wallets, phones, umbrellas, or important documents. The specific item depends heavily on the context.