take for granted — appreciate-not vs assume-true (Essential Idioms)
Two senses, one idiom
Section titled “Two senses, one idiom”| sense | object | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| take sb for granted | a person | fail to appreciate them, treat them as a fixture |
| take sth / it for granted | a thing/fact | assume it’s true without giving it thought |
Test sentences
Section titled “Test sentences”John took his wife for granted until once when he was very sick and needed her constant attention for a week. → sense 1: ungrateful neglect.
He spoke English so well that I took it for granted he was an American. → sense 2: unexamined assumption.
He took for granted that I wasn’t American because I spoke English so poorly! → sense 2 via the that-clause form.
Structure — separable
Section titled “Structure — separable”The object goes between the verb and for granted:
- ✓ took his wife for granted · took it for granted
- ✗ took for granted his wife · ✗ took for granted it
Common alternative word order with a clause:
- take it for granted that + clause · take for granted that + clause (both fine, it more idiomatic)
Only one sense works with a person
Section titled “Only one sense works with a person”- ✓ You take your parents for granted (sense 1 only)
- ✓ Don’t take it for granted that the job is secure (sense 2)
- 人を当たり前に思う / 感謝しない ≈ sense 1 · 当然だと思う ≈ sense 2
Source
Section titled “Source”Essential Idioms in English, lesson 4 (units 15–18) — definitions (S) separable. Ebot lesson 2026-09.