[Haskell-beginners] strange take result--explanation?

[7stud]

*Main> let x = []
*Main> take (length x - 1) [1, 2, 3]
[]
*Main> length x
0
*Main> take (0 - 1) [1, 2, 3]
[]
*Main> take -1 [1, 2, 3]

<interactive>:1:0:
    No instance for (Num (Int -> [a] -> [a]))
      arising from a use of `-' at <interactive>:1:0-16
    Possible fix:
      add an instance declaration for (Num (Int -> [a] -> [a]))
    In the expression: take - 1 [1, 2, 3]
    In the definition of `it': it = take - 1 [1, 2, 3]

<interactive>:1:6:
    No instance for (Num ([t] -> Int -> [a] -> [a]))
      arising from the literal `1' at <interactive>:1:6-16
    Possible fix:
      add an instance declaration for (Num ([t] -> Int -> [a] -> [a]))
    In the second argument of `(-)', namely `1 [1, 2, 3]'
    In the expression: take - 1 [1, 2, 3]
    In the definition of `it': it = take - 1 [1, 2, 3]
*Main> take - 1 [1, 2, 3]
-----

Why does 

take (0 - 1) [1, 2, 3] 

produce a result but not

take -1 [1, 2, 3]

?  Thanks