Involve

Question

Hi,She involved herself in a hobby, such as reading.What does 'involve herself in' mean here?Can I use 'take part in' instead of 'involve herself in' here?If it works, what is the difference between them?Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

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Involve oneself in = occupy or engage one's interest in

'Take part in' does not work unless it is a group hobby, like hula classes or a softball team.
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Anonymous · Answer

Hi Mister,

Thank you very much for your reply. I have some questions as follows:

1. 'Participate in' or 'join' doesn't work either in "She involved herself in a hobby, such as reading." because it isn't a group hobby, ritht?

2.She took part in/participated in/ joined/involved herself in a hobby, like softball.

Is it fine to use all of them here if it is a group hobby?

3.She involved herself in/ took part in/participated in/ joined a new hobby recently.

Do they all work here?

4.Members of the public took part in/ participated in/joined/ involved themselves in the search for the missing boy.

Could you please tell me if all the expressions above work here?

What is the difference in meaning among them?

Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Answer

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1. 'Participate in' or 'join' doesn't work either in "She involved herself in a hobby, such as reading." because it isn't a group hobby, right?-- Wrong; that is not what I said

2.She took part in/participated in/ joined/involved herself in a hobby, like softball. Is it fine to use all of them here if it is a group hobby?-- You don't 'join' a 'hobby' or 'baseball', but you 'join a baseball team'. I cannot comment on the correctness of your sentence until you choose the hobby.

3.She involved herself in/ took part in/participated in/ joined a new hobby recently. Do they all work here?-- I cannot comment on the correctness of your sentence until you choose the hobby.

4.Members of the public (took part in/ participated in /joined (in)/ involved themselves in) the search for the missing boy.

Could you please tell me if all the expressions above work here?-- Yes.

What is the difference in meaning among them?-- The intent is the same for all.
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Anonymous · Answer

Hi Mister Micawber,

Mister Micawber1. 'Participate in' or 'join' doesn't work either in "She involved herself in a hobby, such as reading." because it isn't a group hobby, right?-- Wrong; that is not what I said

Do you mean we don't say "particiate in a hobby" and "join a hobby" either here?

2.She took part in/participated in/ joined/involved herself in a hobby, like softball. Is it fine to use all of them here if it is a group hobby?-- You don't 'join' a 'hobby' or 'baseball', but you 'join a baseball team'. I cannot comment on the correctness of your sentence until you choose the hobby.

What do you mean by 'choose the hobby' here?

3.She involved herself in/ took part in/participated in/ joined a new hobby recently. Do they all work here?-- I cannot comment on the correctness of your sentence until you choose the hobby.

4.Members of the public (took part in/ participated in /joined (in)/ involved themselves in) the search for the missing boy.

Could you please tell me if all the expressions above work here?-- Yes.

What is the difference in meaning among them?-- The intent is the same for all.

Do the three expressions 'take part in', 'participate in' and 'join' mean it's nesessary to do something with other people?

Does 'involve oneself in' mean doing something either alone or with other people?

Does it also mean doing something actively but join or participate in or take part in don't have the sense of "actively"?
Thanks!!

Mister Micawber · Answer

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Do you mean we don't say "particiate in a hobby" and "join a hobby" either here?
What do you mean by 'choose the hobby' here? -- The answer to both of these is that verb choice depends on which hobby you are speaking of. If you are just using the generic word, 'hobby', then we presume a solitary one.

Do the three expressions 'take part in', 'participate in' and 'join' mean it's nesessary to do something with other people? -- Yes
Does 'involve oneself in' mean doing something either alone or with other people? -- Yes
Does it also mean doing something actively but join or participate in or take part in don't have the sense of "actively"?-- No, they all suggest active involvement.
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Anonymous · Answer

Hi Mister,

Thank you for your answer.

She involved herself in/ took part in/participated in/ joined a new hobby recently.

In the senstnec above, can we only use 'involved hereself in' if the speaker just says so?

Thanks!!

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Mister.

Do all the expressions work in the three examples?

He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined sports in order to improve his health.

He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined extracurricular activities such as swimming and mountain climbing.

He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined a hobby such as playing cards.

Thanks!

Mister Micawber · Answer

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She involved herself in/ took part in/participated in/ joined a new hobby recently. In the senstnec above, can we only use 'involved hereself in' if the speaker just says so?-- Which speaker? 'She' or the speaker of this sentence?
He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined in sports.-- OK as amended

He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined in extracurricular activities..-- OK as amended
He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined a hobby such as playing cards.-- Solitaire or Bridge?
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Anonymous · Answer

Hi Mister,

Many thanks for your help. According to your answer, I have some questions. Here they are:

1.She involved herself in/ took part in/participated in/ joined a new hobby recently.
Which speaker? 'She' or the speaker of this sentence?

What is the difference if the speaker is 'She' or 'The speaker of this sentence'?

If the speaker is 'She', which are fine and if the speaker is 'the speaker of this sentence', which are ok here?

2."He joined in sports."
Could you please tell me what the difference is between 'join something' and 'join in something' and why we don't use 'join sports'?
Also, why don't we use 'joined extracurricular activities'?

3.He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined a hobby such as playing cards.-- Solitaire or Bridge?

if the hobby is 'Bridge', but the speaker didn't point it out and just says 'playing cards', which can be used here?

If I change the sentence to:

He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined a hobby such as bridge.

Do they all work here?

Many thanks!

Mister Micawber · Answer

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1. What is the difference if the speaker is 'She' or 'The speaker of this sentence'?-- Do not answer my questions with a question. Because you asked: " In the senstnec above, can we only use 'involved hereself in' if the speaker just says so?"
2."He joined in sports."Also, why don't we use 'joined extracurricular activities'?
Could you please tell me what the difference is between 'join something' and 'join in something' and why we don't use 'join sports'?-- They will sometimes both work, but usually one sounds better than the other, and sometimes the other sounds completely wrong. Join in = participate in. Join = become a member. Please take a look through the [url=http://www.onelook.com/?w=join+in&ls=a]DICTIONARY[/url].

3.He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined a hobby such as playing cards.-- Solitaire or Bridge? if the hobby is 'Bridge', but the speaker didn't point it out and just says 'playing cards', which can be used here?-- As I said before, assume the solitary activity if it is a reasonable option.

If I change the sentence to: He involved himself in/took part in/participated in/joined a hobby such as bridge. Do they all work here?-- No, you can not become a member of a hobby. 'Hobby such as bridge' in itself is rather nonsensical, since bridge is not a representative hobby. Cf: 'I want an expensive new car such as a Volvo.'
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Involve

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