Prepositional Phrases with IN: In this lesson, you will learn about prepositional phrases that use the word “IN” These phrases are very common in English and can help you understand and use the language more naturally. Each phrase has its own meaning, and some of them are also part of phrasal verbs. By learning these phrases, you will improve your vocabulary and communication skills, especially when speaking or writing in English.
Understanding prepositional phrases with IN is important because they show different actions, ideas, or relationships. For example, you will learn how to describe helping someone (like pitch in), interrupting a conversation (like butt in), or earning a lot of money (like rake in). Each phrase comes with simple meanings and easy-to-follow examples that will help you remember how to use them in everyday life.
By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident using “IN” phrases to sound more fluent and natural in English. These phrases will also help you understand conversations, books, and even movies better. Whether you are studying English for work, travel, or personal growth, this lesson will make learning fun and practical.
Definition of “IN” as a Preposition
The preposition “in” is widely used to indicate location, time, condition, or inclusion within a boundary. It can show:
- Location: being inside a place or area (e.g., She is in the room).
- Time: referring to a period (e.g., I will arrive in an hour).
- Condition or State: describing a situation (e.g., He is in trouble).
- Participation or Inclusion: indicating involvement in a group or activity (e.g., He is in the team).
14 Prepositional Phrases with IN
Now, let’s explore 14 prepositional phrases with IN through phrasal verbs and their meanings.
1. BUTT IN
Meaning: To interrupt a conversation or discussion or someone who is talking.
- How can I explain if you keep butting in?
- Sorry to butt in on you like this, but there’s an important call.
- He butted in during our meeting, which was quite rude.
- Kids often butt in when adults are talking.
2. BARGE IN
Meaning:
a) To walk into a room quickly, without being invited.
- I wish he’d knock instead of just barging in.
b) To interrupt rudely. - Sorry to barge in, but I couldn’t help overhearing what you were saying.
- The kids barged in while I was on a video call.
- It’s annoying when someone barges into your personal space.
3. BOX IN
Meaning: To prevent someone or something from being able to move by surrounding them with people, vehicles, etc.
- When I got back to my car, I found it had been boxed in by a lorry.
- She felt boxed in by the crowd at the concert.
- The car was boxed in by two large vans in the parking lot.
4. CHIP IN
Meaning:
a) To contribute to a group purchase.
- They all chipped in £100 to buy her a present.
b) To interrupt a conversation to say something. - I’ll start, and you can all chip in with your comments.
- Let’s chip in for Sarah’s birthday gift.
- He chipped in with a joke during the discussion.
5. DRAFT IN
Meaning: To bring someone somewhere to do a particular job.
- Every Christmas thousands of people are drafted in to help with the mail.
- Volunteers were drafted in to organize the charity event.
- They drafted in extra workers to handle the holiday rush.
Also read: 12 Essential Phrases with ‘Once’
6. FACTOR IN
Meaning: To include something when you are doing a calculation or trying to understand something.
- People are earning more, but when inflation is factored in, they are no better off.
- We need to factor in the extra costs before making a decision.
- When planning the budget, factor in possible delays.
7. PENCIL IN
Meaning: To tentatively arrange something using a pencil, implying that it is not confirmed and subject to change.
- We’ve penciled in a meeting for Tuesday.
- Shall I pencil you in for Friday?
- Let’s pencil in the date for next month.
- I’ve penciled in some time to review the project.
8. PITCH IN
Meaning: To start to do something as part of a group, especially something helpful.
- If we all pitch in together, it won’t take long.
- When I bought this house, all my friends pitched in to help fix it up.
- The whole family pitched in to clean the house.
- We pitched in to help after the storm.
9. PUSH-IN
Meaning: To rudely join a queue by moving in front of some people who are already waiting.
- A couple of boys pushed in at the head of the queue.
- It’s unfair when people push in instead of waiting their turn.
- Don’t push in! Everyone is waiting patiently.
10. RAKE IN
Meaning: To earn or get a large amount of money.
- He rakes in over $200,000 a year.
- She’s really raking it in (= making a lot of money).
- This business idea could help us rake in huge profits.
- She raked in a fortune from her book sales.
11. REIN IN
Meaning: To control something and stop it from increasing.
- Consumers tend to rein in their spending in a recession.
- Some of the worst Wall Street abuses have been reined in.
- The government is trying to rein in inflation.
- She had to rein in her emotions during the speech.
12. ROPE IN
Meaning: To persuade someone to do something for you.
- At the last minute, we roped in a couple of spectators to complete the team.
- Everyone was roped in to help with the show.
- He roped in his colleagues to help with the presentation.
- I was roped in to organize the school event.
13. SINK IN
Meaning: (Of words, an event, etc.) To be fully understood or realized.
- How many times do I have to tell you something before it sinks in?
- It took a moment for the implications of what she was saying to sink in.
- The news took a while to sink in.
- Let the information sink in before making a decision.
Also Read: 22 Shopping Phrases – Shopping Vocabulary
14. USHER IN
Meaning: (Formal) To be the beginning of something new or to make something new begin.
- The change of management ushered in fresh ideas and policies.
- These changes could usher in a period of dramatic economic growth.
- This discovery ushered in a new era of scientific exploration.
- The reforms ushered in significant improvements in education.
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