it/competition

[Tan Elaine]

A badminton competition was held in John's school. He decided to take part in it/the competition.

Should I use 'it' or 'the competition'? To my non-native ear, ending the sentence with 'it' doesn't sound correct.

Many thanks in advance.

[svartnik]

Originally Posted by Tan Elaine

To my non-native ear, ending the sentence with 'it' doesn't sound correct.

I have to disagree with you on this count. "in it" sounds better. Avoid repetition of words.

[engee30]

Originally Posted by svartnik

I have to disagree with you on this count. "in it" sounds better. Avoid repetition of words.

He decided to take part would absolutely suffice.

[svartnik]

I want to get rid (of this).
I want to take part (in this).

Why omission of words is not allowed in the first but in the second?

[engee30]

Originally Posted by svartnik

I want to get rid (of this).
I want to take part (in this).

Why omission of words is not allowed in the first but in the second?

In get rid of something or somebody, making mention of the object is necessary, while in take part (in something) it is not.

[svartnik]

Hi eng,

Thanks. You paraphrased my question.
What does it come down to when necessity raises its ugly head?

[engee30]

Originally Posted by svartnik

Hi eng,

Thanks. You paraphrased my question.
What does it come down to when necessity raises its ugly head?

It may be because of this:
take part (in something) = participate (in something)
participate doesn't take an object; however, if you wanted to apply one, it'd be in the form of a prepositional phrase (in something); the in is the inseparable part of the prepositional phrase, but not of the verb participate (or the phrase take part), hence it is not required while referring back to an activity in question.

get rid of something = discard something
discard requires an object, and so does the phrase get rid of, even when referring back to something already mentioned; the of is the inseparable part of the whole phrase get rid of.

This is only my interpretation of the matter under discussion. You ought not to take it for granted.