take part in: meaning and explanation
To take part in something = to participate or be involved in something. e.g. I'm not very political now, but I took part in several big protests when I was younger.
Synonyms for take part in include: join in with something, participate in something, be involved in something.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Listening exercises
Dictation #1
Accent: Ireland
About the sentence
...It had totally slipped my mind...
If something slipped your mind then you forgot it. This is a useful idiom to use when you're apologising for something. e.g. I'm really sorry about not posting your letter - it slipped my mind.
Dictation #2
Accent: England (RP)
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Dictation #3
Accent: Northern England
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Extra practice
Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:
- Do you have meetings at work? Are you the kind of person who likes to take part in the discussion, or do you let others do the talking?
- Is there anything that you regret taking part in? Or something that you regret not taking part in?
- Have you ever taken part in some kind of live performance, like a play or a concert? How did it go?
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I wish I took part in more team sports when i was a student. For this reason now i am not a sporty person
Hi Katerina, good example. We have a saying: “it’s never too late” 🙂
One correction: for wishes about the past, we use ‘I wish past perfect’. So your sentence should be: “I wish I had taken part in more team sports when I was a student”.
‘I wish past’ is used for wishes about the present. e.g. “I wish I had a car”.
Usually I don’t like to take part in discussions, even when I know it’s necessary. It happens especially when I’m in groups, but if I’m debating with a friend or someone that i really know, I can keep talking for long time.
There’s a big event going to happen in my college in two months, and I’ll be part of its organization. Although I know that it’s a great opportunity to increase my curriculum, I feel that I shouldn’t have taken part of it, because of my lack of time.
I’ve never taken part in live performances. Only those from school time.
Excellent writing Aline.
– In the second paragraph, you should say: “There’s a big event which is going to happen…”.
– In British English, we say ‘CV’ instead of ‘curriculum’.
– Also, remember that it should be ‘to take part in sth’, not ‘of sth’ (second paragraph).
Well done!
I don’t usually take part in discussions at work. I usually let others do the talking, I’m a little shy in such circumstances. But when I’m among my close friends, I have no difficulty taking part in any discussion.
About whether there is anything that I regret taking part in, yes, there is. Once, I took part in a play at school, when it was my turn, I just dried up half-way through my lines, I completely forgot what to say next. I was rather embarrassed.
One of the things I really regret not having taking part in was in the arrangements for one of my best friends’ send-off. I wasn’t even able to be there. I haven’t heard from her ever since. I wish I could see her sometime and catch up with her.
Hi Marisela – really good use of the language, well done. I have one small correction:
– The structure in the third paragraph (to regret not having done sth) is very advanced and you’ve almost used it perfectly – just be careful to use the past participle (taken).