This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2567.
Make a photo or take a photo.
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You know that make versus do is tricky, but what about make versus take?
Find out when to use these two verbs to clean up your English.
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Hey Lindsay, how are you?
Hey Michelle, I'm feeling good.
I am fresh off my trip to Italy and feeling refreshed, I guess.
Yeah, that is great.
I love Italy.
Did you take a lot of pictures when you went?
I did take a fair amount of pictures and it helps when you have the camera phones now, right?
You don't need another camera anymore.
It's amazing.
You can create albums.
Yeah, but the weather was nice.
It was sunny and No complaints, right?
Yes.
Yeah, that's great.
So, yeah, tell us a little bit more.
You went on a wine tour.
I went on a wine tour in like in the Florence area.
And it was interesting because you know when you go on wine tours often international wine tours.
We booked this, I think, possibly through Airbnb.
Yeah.
Um, usually the, the language is English.
The language of the tour is English.
And usually the tour guides are really high, have very high level English.
And this tour guide had very high level English, a hundred percent.
But for me, being a linguist, I'm always listening in for um, not so much mistakes, because I don't, you know, we're not all about mistakes.
Mistakes, we're about connection.
But I'm always interested in kind of mistranslations and what happened there.
I always think, huh, I wonder what happened there.
Right.
So there was a moment we were at a vineyard and the sun was just setting and it was gorgeous, right outside of the vines, watching the vines.
And he said, come on, everyone, get together.
Let's make a picture.
And I thought, oh, OK, that's not quite right.
Right.
We knew exactly what he meant.
We all got together.
We had a beautiful photo, but it wasn't quite right, Michelle.
Yeah, exactly.
And of course it didn't take away from the connection.
You had a wonderful time.
Yes.
So again guys, we don't want to stress that all of these things are going to ruin everything but, but I but what Lindsay is saying is like that.
It's interesting to analyze after and to see if we can use this to help our listeners.
A hundred percent, a hundred percent.
Cause there are just little things around the edges, that when we're translating directly and that's what my hunch is what was happening?
Um, that we can make some small mistakes.
So, I mean, this is why we travel, right?
Cause we understand connection goes so much deeper than just the choice of words.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, but yeah, this was really interesting.
And if you think about it, it's very understandable why someone would say, make a picture.
I mean, you're getting together to make a picture.
Exactly.
Um, yes.
So it, it, it makes sense.
Uh, but, Here is the difference.
So basically, when you say take a picture, I'm thinking of physically.
Someone is pressing the button, you're gathering together.
It doesn't matter who's in the picture or who's pressing it.
It's just that it's, someone is taking the picture.
So the tour guide.
What would have been correct would have been let's stand together and take a picture.
Yes.
So the focus is on the actual posing for the camera.
Um, So that's what it would be.
Or what's another example?
You could say, I want to take a picture of you in front of the Coliseum, right?
Or in front of this museum, the Uffizi Gallery or something like that.
Right, right, right.
And if you think of it that way Michelle, I mean like logistically speaking, it's not completely wrong.
It just sounds awkward, because he was asking us to get together and And create a scene for a photo, right?
And in many cases, you would use make for that.
We've talked in other episodes about make versus do, where make means create, right?
So I got exactly what it was saying.
We understood it.
The picture got taken.
But I think a native speaker probably would have said take, because take encompasses the making of the scene of coming together, right.
Right?
Right.
I think it's really about that pressing of the button where it's a photograph, right?
In this kind of context.
I mean... make a picture.
To me, this sounds more like, I mean, this goes what you were saying about create, right?
You're like creating a picture, maybe a drawing or creation.
So let's take out our watercolors.
We're going to make a picture of what makes us happy, right?
Yeah.
It's more like creating from scratch in a way, right?
So you're going to actually draw that, That photo, or make a picture with your crayons of what you see in front of you?
You might say that to kids, right?
Right.
Right.
Giving them a blank sheet of paper.
But in this case we're taking a picture.
Taking a photo because the people are already there.
The scene is kind of already created, but logistically it kind of makes sense, right.
Make a picture, but we just don't say it in that context, right?
When you ask someone to stand together for a photo, you don't say make a picture.
Yep.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And, and, you know, this really, what we think is happening is a translation issue, right?
Um, you know, especially with romance languages.
So, for example French Italian Spanish Portuguese um, If we understand it correctly and guys you know, always write in and let us know.
But they might be using more like one general verb.
Right.
Right.
And this verb could encompass other things like do or make or perform.
Right.
And it works naturally in those languages.
But in English, we kind of have separate boxes for them.
That's why I mean, we've done other episodes, guys.
And you should search in our archives on our make do episodes that we've done, because I know it's opening up a whole can of worms that we want to work on.
But we know in Spanish, the verb hacer, right?
Hacer una foto. or in French, we need Aubrey for the French accent here.
These verbs tend to be used for make and do, right?
In Portuguese and Italian as well.
So that's our hunch is that this is some kind of direct translation going on.
But guys, write in, ask us a follow-up question or correct us if we're wrong here.
We'd love to hear from you.
Yeah, absolutely.
So in English, let's talk about take a little bit more.
So Take is more like to experience something or could be to receive you.
Take something.
Consume or capture.
So capture, like take a picture, right?
For sure.
Yeah, capture a photo, consume, receive something.
I guess take is kind of similar to the verb faire or hacer where it's broad, right?
So capture, consume, receive, experience.
It can it can include a lot of a lot of things.
That's true.
Yeah, yeah, it does.
Right.
Take a seat.
Take a break.
Right.
So that's kind of I guess I would say about experiencing something.
Take a bite or take a sip to consume so much or take a shower.
Right.
Oh, yeah.
There's so much there.
And we could go on and on.
So. in a way it's kind of learning these as chunks based on the scenario.
That's why it's so helpful to kind of, why we always encourage our listeners to take 10 minutes out of your day and think in English, you know, do it in the morning when you're making your breakfast.
I'm going to make my coffee.
I'm going to take a shower in a few minutes, right?
I'm going to take a break and just read the newspaper before I start work.
Okay.
Right.
And yeah, I really like that.
I personally think that this learning and chunks and just kind of remembering these and kind of taking some time to just memorize them and practice them is more useful than saying does this one break down the rules?
Yeah.
Does this one meet, you know, I, I just think it's more useful.
It's helpful to know, but in your daily life it's really good to just get used to it.
To you know, to get.
I mean it sounds funny, but get your flashcards out, just do it and put them around the house.
Yeah, they can help.
Sometimes that's just the best way.
What about make?
Yeah, make.
So make is more like causing something to come into being or to create it.
Right.
So, for example, make a picture again not not snapping that photo, not lining up together in front of the vineyard.
It is maybe you're going to draw something from scratch.
Right.
Right.
What else, Michelle?
Make a friend.
Right.
Oh, I need to I want to make some friends at the party or oh, I made a new friend.
Right.
So you caused something.
Something happened.
Yes.
Yes.
Make noise.
It would be another thing. way of saying like there's a racket, right?
You're just causing noise to occur.
Make the bed, right?
Yeah.
You wouldn't say take the bed.
That means you're getting the bed and picking it up.
No, totally different, right?
Here we're putting the covers back up.
We're making it look nice and neat for the day.
Do you make the bed every day?
I was going to ask.
Were you just about to ask me that?
I usually try to.
Yeah.
I like to have my bed made because, I mean, I don't spend a lot of time in my bedroom during the day, but it makes me feel like I'm ready for the day.
Certain rituals that I need.
I need to take a shower.
I need to have breakfast.
I need to take my dog out for a walk, right?
Like to be ready mentally.
But not everyone.
Some people just roll out of bed and just go right to work.
I don't know.
That's me.
I don't make the bed.
It's only like on a special occasion, where I'm cleaning up or my mom's here and she'll say I'm going to make your bed.
Then make a change, right?
Oh, I want to make a change in my life or my career or whatever it may be.
Exactly.
Yes.
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How doers get more done.
Okay, Michelle.
So do we find any other common mistakes?
I mean, it's good to be aware of common mistakes that can happen between romance languages.
And not everyone listening to this show speaks a romance language, of course.
So think about common mistakes from your native language being translated into English.
What are some of them, Michelle?
So we already did make a photo and take a photo, um, make a break.
You might hear someone you know maybe you've said this before to make a break instead of to take a break.
And when we say break, what is that?
Sounds strange to me.
Make a break, but what?
What do we?
What is break?
Just, just for a moment.
Um, you could, there is, you know, you could probably heard make a break for it.
Right.
But that's, Oh, what does that mean?
Make a break for it?
Is that like run away?
Like try to like quickly run away.
Okay.
Okay.
Got it.
Got it.
You rang someone's doorbell and you're trying to play a prank on them.
Let's make a break for it.
So it's.
It's interesting that I had to actually ask you like to clarify the meaning of break B-R-E-A-K, because when we said it with make, it made no sense to me.
Right.
Right.
I was like, what is that?
Right.
Take a break makes total sense.
So when you get the right chunk, you get the right verb with the noun.
People understand you instantly.
Right.
So that's why, again, we're not translating word for word.
We're translating idea for idea in a sense.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then what about this one, Lindsay?
Have you heard this?
Do a mistake instead of make a mistake.
I've definitely heard it.
Right.
But I don't want to hear it again.
Yeah.
Make a party.
I've heard this one, too, but it's wrong.
What should we say instead, Michelle?
You should really say have a party or throw a party.
However, this one doesn't bother me as much.
Like, oh, I want to make a party for you.
I don't know.
Make a party for you.
I guess there could be.
I guess there could be edge cases where you're trying to express something special, that you want to create something for your friend.
Yeah.
Right.
Right.
Yes.
I decided.
Yeah.
But I think it's a real edge case.
And I think most like 95 percent of the time you're going to say have a party, throw a party, host a party.
True.
Right.
Have.
Yeah.
Mm hmm.
I would say.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So we'll focus on the majority of the times for our listeners today.
And then another one that feels wrong, right?
It kind of nails on a chalkboard for me is take a decision, right?
Take a decision, right?
Because it's to make a decision.
Yeah, we don't say take a decision.
So guys, I mean what we've learned is, in a romance languages, generally maybe using a single verb for both to make and to do.
And so this is a common way that it can get confusing, because English has kind of this clear distinguish like way to distinguish between the two.
So something that might be able to be expressed with one verb in a romance language is has maybe have two different ones in English.
So we just want to be aware of that, right?
It's a pitfall.
And if we know that it's out there, we can just think more about conveying ideas, right?
Not translating words, not breaking up an entire sentence into words.
Okay, what's my native language word here?
Now, let's say that in English.
No, we want to stay away from that.
And ultimately, the focus is connection, of course, as we know.
Michelle, exactly.
Shall we do a role play?
Shall we do it?
Sure.
Okay.
So here we are.
We are friends talking about our weekend.
Okay.
So how'd it go?
Oh, it was so much fun.
I took so many pictures.
My phone is dead, but I'll show you later.
Oh, that's great.
Did you make any decisions on whether you're going to buy a car or not?
Oh, not yet.
I think I might need to take a break from big decisions.
They make me too stressed.
Oh, I hear you.
How was your weekend?
Good.
Thanks.
I went out and made some new friends at a meetup.
It was fun.
Great.
There is such a thing as decision fatigue, right, Michelle?
Oh, my God.
Yes.
Yes.
That's why they say like, make your big decisions in the morning, when you have full energy, when you're feeling good, if you are a morning person.
There is a such thing as, like it gets exhausting if you have to make more and more decisions and your decision making skill gets worse.
Yeah.
And if it's not good to begin with, then that's right.
Yeah.
You struggle with that, right, Michelle?
A little bit.
Yeah.
Especially with things like design.
Like, you know, I moved into a house and, you know, it's like, oh, I mean, literally we we.
There are some things that we just haven't done from a year ago that we meant to complete a project because it's just too – it's just like whatever.
No, I'm kind of the same way.
I overanalyze everything and I need to know all the details and then I still don't know.
It doesn't help me with my gut feeling of which color of this or that to go with, right?
And then, no matter which one I choose, I'm going to really think oh, I should have done the other one.
Yeah, for sure.
Might as well just choose something.
Yeah.
Good.
All right, let's go through the role play.
So here, Michelle, I asked you how did it go and you said it was so much fun.
I took so many pictures.
And again, take, right?
I took so many pictures.
Okay.
And then...
You said, did you make any decisions on whether or not you're going to buy the car?
Yeah.
And then you said, oh, not yet.
I think I need to take a break.
So take a break from big decisions, right?
You wouldn't say make a break.
You would never say that there.
That's strange, right?
Yes.
Then I said, how was your weekend?
And you said, good, thanks.
I went out and made some new friends at a meetup.
It was fun.
Love it.
So good.
Ah, this is a good one, Michelle.
I mean, I love when we go out into the world and we hear things.
Then we can take them back to the show.
And we love to get these from you guys too.
So send in your question.
If you hear a kind of a mistranslation or something you're not sure if it's correct, send it to support at allersenglishcom.
Tell us the context, what you were doing when you heard it.
We want that context.
We want to bring your question to the show.
Okay.
Exactly.
Yeah, guys, check out episode 2565 just from the other day.
That was, is English all Greek to you?
A really good one.
Really good one.
Any final takeaway for today, Michelle, where we should leave our listeners?
Don't. worry about this too much and don't analyze it too much.
Just learn the specific pieces.
And I think life will be a lot easier.
Love it.
I love that, Michelle.
And also just to top that off, get into thinking in English.
You know, we always recommend that.
Grab five minutes out of your day.
Even three minutes would be great because you have a dialogue already happening in your head.
At least I do.
I hope I'm not the only one.
Yeah.
No, no, no.
There's a dialogue happening.
You're not the only one.
No, don't worry.
Don't worry.
And maybe choose like three different contexts.
Maybe on Mondays, it's breakfast time.
Maybe on Wednesdays, it's lunchtime.
Whatever you want to do, but start thinking in English.
So you're starting to adopt these chunks properly.
Okay.
Love it.
Love it.
That's great.
All right.
All right, Michelle.
Well, we'll see you in the next one.
You have a good day.
All right.
All right.
I'm going to go take a break.
Bye, Lindsay.
Bye.
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