1. He picked up the stone.
2. He took up the stone.
(Are both the same?)
3. Volunteer work takes up a lot of time.
(What is the meaning of 'takes up'? What other words can we use instead of 'takes up'?
1 and 2 mean about the same thing, yes. 1 is the more common usage.
3 could be rephrased: Volunteer work involves a lot of time.
http://www.eslcafe.com/pv/pv-a.html
Good list of "phrasal verbs" -- look them up alphabetically.
http://www.eslcafe.com/idioms/
Good lists of idioms -- look at the whole collection or look them up alphabetically.
1. "He picked up the stone" and "He took up the stone" are similar in meaning, as both phrases convey the action of someone lifting or grasping a stone. The slight difference lies in the choice of words: "picked up" is a more common and straightforward phrase, while "took up" implies a deliberate action of lifting or raising the stone.
2. In the context of volunteer work, "takes up" means that it requires a significant amount of time or occupies a substantial portion of one's schedule. It suggests that engaging in volunteer work can be time-consuming.
There are several other words or phrases that can be used instead of "takes up" to convey a similar meaning, such as:
- Requires
- Occupies
- Consumes
- Demands
For example:
- Volunteer work requires a lot of time.
- Volunteer work occupies a significant portion of one's schedule.
- Volunteer work consumes a considerable amount of time.
- Volunteer work demands a substantial time commitment.
Using these alternative words or phrases can help express the idea that volunteer work involves a significant time investment.