You might think of it this way: * The verb indicates what happens as a results. put - place/leave something away from your hand (afterwards it's farther from your hand) take - get/grab something toward/into your hand (afterwards it is in your hand) * The adverb shows the way the action is taken. on - get something "on top of", "close to" something off - get something "away from", "removed from" something So, putting them together: put off -> you place something further away from your hand -> "postpone". take off -> you get something away from your body into your hand - "undress". put on -> you place something away from your hand onto your body - "wear". take on -> you get something upon yourself (you have it in your hand as a result) - "tackle". The best way to get the hang of it, though, is to study a lot of usage examples.

Just to add to what Paul and Roy have said, "put off" implies being repulsed, turned away or detracted from something or someone. Ex: I don't like talking to him for long periods of time because he is constantly smoking, and I'm put off by the smell of cigarettes.

No, 'put off' cannot be used like that. The answer book is right, only 'take off' is correct. You can 'put on' a coat (the act of putting a coat on your body to wear it in the first place) but you cannot use 'put off' with items of clothing as you do with 'take off.'

Hello, that's an interesting question. :) Put on = to dress yourself. If you are cold you will put on your jumper. Take off = to remove your clothing. If it is very hot you might remove your clothes.