This one is not very easy to answer, since I don't know the origins of the expressions, but let's try. 1. We do say "(Eu) vou ter uma soneca." and similar. 2. "Tirar" is an active verb. 3. "Tomar", in this sense, however, acts like a not purely active, nor purely passive verb - it's called by some simply as neutral verb. We could say it's a middle voice verb. So, we use "tirar" for expressions such as "tirar uma soneca" just like we say "dormir". You make the action of "dormir", and don't suffer it from someone or something. On the other hand, we say "tomar" for expressions such as "tomar vergonha na cara", " tomar banho" etc. You make the action, sometimes syntactically and semantically, other times just syntactically, and suffer it from something or someone else. e.g. "(Eu) vou tirar uma soneca." (I'm going to take a nap.) I am the grammatical subject and an agent too. I will move to the 'soneca' and will make actions in order to execute it. AND The couch/bed/whatever won't execute something on me. Therefore, the couch/bed/whatever isn't an agent too. "(Eu) vou tomar um banho." (I'm going to take a shower/bathe.) I am the grammatical subject and an agent too. I will move to the 'banho' and will make actions in order to execute it. BUT The shower/bath will bathe me. Therefore, the shower/bath is an agent too. This isn't an universal pattern, by the way, but the majority and more. In English, you make things easier using 'take' for both senses. I hope I could be clear enough and help you. =]

Ola Kayleigh exemplos tomar: vou tomar esta borracha dela voce pode tomar conta de meu filho quero tomar um suco vou tomar um banho presente-tomar passado-tomou futuro-tomarei Tirar- vou tirar minha filha daquela escola vou tirar o lapis de dentro da caixa vou tirar um cochilo quem tirou meu livro de cima da mesa vou tirar nota boa este ano presente-tirar passado-tirou-tirei futuro-tirarei etc....

It´s as difficult as take, get, keep is for us, IT MEANS MANY THINGS TOMAR = to drink something, water, milk, soda... eu vou TOMAR agua, leite, soda to take a bath Eu vou tomar um banho to catch or to hold something in your hand without permision to catch a bus.... TIRAR: to take off something, to do something disappear question, sleep, reason... in fact when you are going TIRAR UMA SONECA you do the sleep disappear. when somebody pick up something of some place I hope it help you

Since João refutes at least some of my statements, I'll counter-argue. 1. "Tomar café" doesn't seem to apply. "Tomar", here, means "drink". So, you are drinking a coffee (eating breakfast?), and not "taking a breakfast". 2. "Ter" is used. Check this example: "(Eu) vou ter aquele sono gostoso agora." (I'll have that pleasant sleep now.) This is a common sentence where I live. On the other hand, it's uncommon to say: "(Eu) vou tirar aquele sono gostoso agora." (I'll take that pleasant sleep now.) It's just a matter of preference. Some people are used to say X, just X, and like it. Other, to say Y, just Y, and like it. Some people say both X and Y. Some even say Z. The diversity is what makes Portuguese rich and that's how those expressions were born. I'm trying to show that "tomar" and "tirar" aren't interchangeable mostly not just due to a matter of preference or authoritarian praxis, but because they present different voices. Like I said earlier, you could replace "tirar (algo)" for a shorter active verb. Tirar um cochilo = Cochilar (Take a nap = To nap) Tirar uma música do violão = Tocar violão (Take a music from the guitar = Play guitar) But if you want to replace "tomar (algo)", probably you would use a reflexive verb or a passive voice verb. Tomar um banho = Banhar-se (Take a bath = To bathe yourself) Tomar um golpe = Ser golpeado (Take a hit = Be hitted) Tomar vergonha na cara = Envergonhar-se (Take shame on the face = To ashame yourself) [That is, to turn yourself into the state of feeling shame] And, yes, I believe all have logic. But you have to go deep enough to find it.

take a shower ,take a drink. :) tomar alguma coisa.