has taken

USAGE SUMMARY

"has taken" is a perfectly valid part of written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that has recently been taken, especially in the past tense. For example: "He has taken the last piece of cake."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Samsung has taken notice.

The New York Times - Tech

"Fatism has taken over.

The New York Times

Clinton has taken notice.

The New Yorker

He has taken charge.

The New York Times

Circulation has taken off.

The New York Times - Tech

Hollywood has taken notice.

The New York Times

Even Woods has taken notice.

The New York Times - Sports

Now Autocorrect has taken charge.

The New York Times

That has taken its toll.

The Economist

That has taken people aback.

The Economist

Romania has taken steps, too.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific direct objects like "responsibility", "control", or "notice" to create clear and idiomatic expressions in professional writing.

Common error

Do not confuse the past participle "taken" with the simple past "took". A common error is writing "has took", which is grammatically incorrect. Always use the form "has taken" for the present perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has taken" serves as the present perfect tense form of the verb "to take". According to Ludwig AI, it functions as a bridge between the past and the present, indicating that an action occurred at an unspecified time and its consequences remain relevant. It is composed of the auxiliary verb "has" (used for third-person singular subjects) and the past participle "taken".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has taken" is an essential and highly frequent element of standard English, utilized across all major writing domains from prestigious news outlets like The New York Times to academic resources. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically correct present perfect construction that links past events to the present moment. Whether describing an economy that "has taken a hit" or a leader who "has taken charge", the phrase provides a clear sense of current status. To elevate your writing, ensure you never use the incorrect form "has took" and consider formal alternatives like has assumed when discussing control or responsibility. Overall, it is a reliable and versatile choice for any professional writer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has assumed

More formal and often used with abstract nouns like control, responsibility, or leadership.

has accepted

Replaces the phrase when 'taking' implies receiving something offered, such as a buyout or a challenge.

has acquired

Implies a permanent gain or the purchase of a company or asset.

has adopted

Commonly used when referring to the implementation of new measures, steps, or policies.

has required

Appropriate when 'has taken' refers to the duration or effort needed for a task.

has occupied

Used when the taking refers to physical space or a specific position of time.

has seized

Connotes a sudden or forceful act of taking, such as seizing an opportunity or control.

has claimed

Specific to contexts involving lives lost (e.g., 'the storm has claimed lives') or ownership.

has utilized

A more formal alternative when 'taking' means making use of an available resource.

has moved

Functional alternative when 'taking' involves shifting something from one place to another.

FAQs

How to use "has taken" in a sentence?

You can use "has taken" to show a completed action that affects the present, such as "The company "has taken steps" to improve safety".

What is the difference between "has taken" and "took"?

While "took" refers to a specific finished time in the past, "has taken" focuses on the result of the action now. Use "took" if you mention a time (e.g., yesterday), but use "has taken" for general status updates.

What can I say instead of "has taken" when referring to power?

In formal contexts regarding power or leadership, you might prefer "has assumed" or "has seized".

Is "has took" or "has taken" correct?

Only "has taken" is correct. "Took" is the simple past form and should never follow the auxiliary verb "has".