The phrase “have taken to do” is often misunderstood or misused by English learners. In fact, native speakers rarely say “have taken to do something.” Instead, they usually say:
“have taken to doing something”
This construction means that someone has started a new habit or begun to enjoy an activity regularly.
Correct Usage Examples
- She has taken to walking every morning.
- They have taken to cooking together on weekends.
- He has taken to playing the guitar since last month.
Why Not “to do”?
After “take to,” we use a gerund (verb + -ing), not the infinitive (“to do”). This is because “take to” functions like a phrasal verb that requires a noun or gerund as its object.
✅ Correct: She has taken to gardening.
❌ Incorrect: She has taken to garden.
Common Mistakes
Many learners mistakenly write or say “have taken to do” because they associate “to” with the infinitive form. Remember: in this phrase, “to” is a preposition—not part of an infinitive—so it must be followed by a noun or -ing verb.