Grammar fix
take its toll
cause gradual damage (often over time)
to have a negative effect on someone or something, especially gradually and in a way that becomes serious over time
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Years of working night shifts have really taken their toll on her health.health
- I believe that constant exposure to noise pollution can take its toll on people's mental well-being, especially in big cities.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: take its toll (on someone/something)
WrongThe job is taking a toll to her.
RightThe job is taking its toll on her.
'Take ITS toll ON' someone — the wording is fixed.
Patterntake its toll (on someone/something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Take its toll' is the idiomatic way to say something is gradually wearing you down.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
take its toll + onon her healthon the teamover the yearsmentally
Don't confuse it
Unlike simple verbs like 'hurt' or 'damage', 'take its toll' emphasizes a gradual, often invisible impact that builds up over time. It is not used for sudden or one-off events.