Light-verb construction 'in Anspruch nehmen' (to take up / make use of)

What it is: in Anspruch nehmen is a light-verb construction meaning to take up, to make use of or to claim - used of time, help, services or a right. The noun Anspruch (claim) carries the meaning; nehmen is the light verb.

When it is used: It is formal and very common in administrative and legal language: making use of a service, a right, or someone's assistance, or describing how much time/effort something requires.

How it is formed: What is used or claimed stands in the accusative, followed by in Anspruch and nehmen:

• Accusative object + in Anspruch + nehmen

Examples:

• Die Arbeit nimmt viel Zeit in Anspruch. - The work takes up a lot of time.
• Sie nahm rechtliche Beratung in Anspruch. - She made use of legal advice.
• Er nimmt sein Recht auf Akteneinsicht in Anspruch. - He claims his right to inspect the files.

Common mistakes: The phrase is fixed: in Anspruch, never zum Anspruch or in den Anspruch. Note that in Anspruch nehmen (to make use of) is different from the adjective anspruchsvoll (demanding); do not confuse the meanings.

'in Anspruch nehmen' = to take up / make use of (time, help, a right).

Means 'to take up / make use of (time, help)'; a fixed combination.

'in Anspruch nehmen' = beanspruchen, nutzen (Zeit, Hilfe, Recht).