took interest vs took an interest

Both 'took interest' and 'took an interest' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Took an interest' is more commonly used when referring to someone becoming interested in something, while 'took interest' is less common and usually used in a more formal or literary context.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 2448 views

This phrase is correct but less common in everyday English. It is more suitable for formal or literary contexts.

"took interest"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone has shown interest in something without the article 'an'. It is more formal and less commonly used in everyday speech.

Examples:

He took interest in the ancient artifacts at the museum.
She took interest in learning a new language.
The professor took interest in the student's research project.

Show examples from the web [+]

Tell me one girl that you really took interest.
One thing led to another and... I took interest in the art of movement.
Vanger Industries took a controlling interest in Millennium magazine...
He would absorb anything that took his interest.
Because he took an interest in you.
O'Reilly took special interest as soon as he walked in the door.
And their holy men took an interest in me.
Vera never took any interest in the apples.
He took an interest in you.
The police just took an interest in me.
I was headed down a bad path, and some people from Visualize took an interest and helped straighten me out.
I was headed down a bad path, and some people from Visualize took an interest and helped straighten me out.
He took an interest in us, and we moved in with him for awhile.
Maybe I read all the time 'cause dad never took an interest in me.
When I was pregnant with Molly, I had a husband who took an interest in how I was feeling.
Never took any interest in her or the kids.
I've laid some dulcet tones down On anyone who took an interest.
But still you took an interest in me when no one else did.
It was always me that took an interest in everything you did, not him.
My name is ice, so I took an interest.

Alternatives:

showed interest
expressed interest
demonstrated interest
developed an interest
became interested

This phrase is the more common and idiomatic way to express someone becoming interested in something.

"took an interest"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone has developed an interest in something, and it is the more commonly used form in everyday English.

Examples:

She took an interest in photography after attending a workshop.
He took an interest in gardening and started planting flowers in his backyard.
The children took an interest in the new science experiment.

Show examples from the web [+]

But still you took an interest in me when no one else did.
And I also want to thank Mr. Boykewich, who took an interest in me and in helping me.
My name is ice, so I took an interest.
Was there anyone in his meetings that took an interest in Brian or his relationship with you and Christine, anyone that stuck out as odd?
Because he took an interest in you.
And their holy men took an interest in me.
He took an interest in you.
The police just took an interest in me.
I was headed down a bad path, and some people from Visualize took an interest and helped straighten me out.
He took an interest in us, and we moved in with him for awhile.
Maybe I read all the time 'cause dad never took an interest in me.
When I was pregnant with Molly, I had a husband who took an interest in how I was feeling.
I've laid some dulcet tones down On anyone who took an interest.
It was always me that took an interest in everything you did, not him.
That is, until my supposed best friend, Garrett Einbinder... ...took an interest in Sherry himself.
Perhaps I was overcompensating for the fact that you never took an interest in his life.
She's just a girl I took an interest in.
I find it surprising that the United Nations Security Council first took an interest in the particular situation of women in war zones only 10 years ago.
Business circles in the Americas took an interest in the FTAA project very early on.
At first, I thought she took an interest in me because she wanted something.

Alternatives:

became interested in
developed an interest in
showed an interest in
expressed an interest in
demonstrated an interest in

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took interest vs took an interest

"took interest"

"took an interest"

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