I. POSITION OR MOVEMENT
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words ~ English.
Note: In addition to the uses shown below, '~' is used after some verbs, nouns, and adjectives ~ order to ~troduce extra ~formation. 'In' is also used with verbs of movement such as ‘walk’ and ‘push’, and ~ phrasal verbs such as ‘give ~’ and ‘dig ~’.
1.
Someone or someth~g that is ~ someth~g else is enclosed by it or surrounded by it. If you put someth~g ~ a conta~er, you move it so that it is enclosed by the conta~er.
He was ~ his car.
...clothes hang~g ~ the wardrobe...
PREP
2.
If someth~g happens ~ a place, it happens there.
We spent a few days ~ a hotel...
He had ~tended to take a holiday ~ America...
PREP
3.
If you are ~, you are present at your home or place of work.
My flatmate was ~ at the time...
? out
ADV: be ADV
4.
When someone comes ~, they enter a room or build~g.
She looked up anxiously as he came ~...
They shook hands and went ~.
ADV: ADV after v
5.
If a tra~, boat, or plane has come ~ or is ~, it has arrived at a station, port, or airport.
We’d be watch~g every plane com~g ~ from Melbourne...
Look. The tra~’s ~. We’ll have to run for it now.
ADV: ADV after v, be ADV
6.
When the sea or tide comes ~, the sea moves towards the shore rather than away from it.
She thought of the tide rush~g ~, cover~g the wet sand...
? out
ADV: ADV after v, be ADV
7.
Someth~g that is ~ a w~dow, especially a shop w~dow, is just beh~d the w~dow so that you can see it from outside.
There was a camera for sale ~ the w~dow.
PREP
8.
When you see someth~g ~ a mirror, the mirror shows an image of it.
I couldn’t bear to see my reflection ~ the mirror...
PREP
9.
If you are dressed ~ a piece of cloth~g, you are wear~g it.
He was a big man, smartly dressed ~ a suit and tie.
PREP: oft -ed PREP n
10.
Someth~g that is covered or wrapped ~ someth~g else has that th~g over or round its surface.
His legs were covered ~ mud.
PREP: oft -ed PREP n
11.
If there is someth~g such as a crack or hole ~ someth~g, there is a crack or hole on its surface.
There was a deep crack ~ the ceil~g above him.
PREP
II. INCLUSION OR INVOLVEMENT
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words ~ English.
1.
If someth~g is ~ a book, film, play, or picture, you can read it or see it there.
Don’t stick too precisely to what it says ~ the book.
PREP
2.
If you are ~ someth~g such as a play or a race, you are one of the people tak~g part.
Alf offered her a part ~ the play he was direct~g...
More than fifteen thousand people took part ~ the memorial service.
PREP
3.
Someth~g that is ~ a group or collection is a member of it or part of it.
The New England team are the worst ~ the league.
PREP
4.
You use ~ to specify a general subject or field of activity.
...those work~g ~ the defence ~dustry.
...future developments ~ medic~e.
PREP
III. TIME AND NUMBERS
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words ~ English.
1.
If someth~g happens ~ a particular year, month, or other period of time, it happens dur~g that time.
...that early spr~g day ~ April 1949...
Export orders improved ~ the last month...
In the even~g, the people assemble ~ the mosques...
PREP
2.
If someth~g happens ~ a particular situation, it happens while that situation is go~g on.
His father had been badly wounded ~ the last war.
...issues you struggle with ~ your daily life.
PREP
3.
If you do someth~g ~ a particular period of time, that is how long it takes you to do it.
He walked two hundred and sixty miles ~ eight days.
PREP: PREP amount
4.
If someth~g will happen ~ a particular length of time, it will happen after that length of time.
I’ll have some breakfast ready ~ a few m~utes...
They’ll be back ~ six months.
PREP: PREP amount
5.
You use ~ to ~dicate roughly how old someone is. For example, if someone is ~ their fifties, they are between 50 and 59 years old.
...young people ~ their twenties.
PREP: PREP poss pl-num
6.
You use ~ to ~dicate roughly how many people or th~gs do someth~g.
...men who came there ~ droves...
PREP: oft PREP num
7.
You use ~ to express a ratio, proportion, or probability.
Last year, one ~ five boys left school without a qualification...
PREP: num PREP num
IV. STATES AND QUALITIES
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words ~ English.
1.
If someth~g or someone is ~ a particular state or situation, that is their present state or situation.
The economy was ~ trouble...
Dave was ~ a hurry to get back to work...
Their equipment was ~ poor condition...
PREP: v-l~k PREP n
2.
You use ~ to ~dicate the feel~g or desire which someone has when they do someth~g, or which causes them to do it.
Simpson looked at them ~ surprise...
Chris was weep~g ~ anger and grief...
PREP
3.
If a particular quality or ability is ~ you, you naturally have it.
Violence is not ~ his nature...
PREP: oft PREP pron to-~f
4.
You use ~ when say~g that someone or someth~g has a particular quality.
He had all the qualities I was look~g for ~ a partner...
‘I don’t agree,’ she said, surprised at the strength ~ her own voice...
PREP
5.
You use ~ to ~dicate how someone is express~g someth~g.
Information is given to the patient verbally and ~ writ~g.
...lessons ~ languages other than Spanish.
PREP
6.
You use ~ ~ expressions such as ~ a row or ~ a ball to describe the arrangement or shape of someth~g.
The cards need to be laid out ~ two rows...
Her ear, shoulder and hip are ~ a straight l~e...
PREP
7.
If someth~g is ~ a particular colour, it has that colour.
...white flowers edged ~ p~k...
PREP: oft -ed PREP colour
8.
You use ~ to specify which feature or aspect of someth~g you are talk~g about.
The movie is nearly two hours ~ length...
There is a big difference ~ the amounts that banks charge.
...a real ~crease ~ the standard of liv~g...
PREP
V. OTHER USES AND PHRASES
(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words ~ English.
1.
If you say that someth~g is ~, or is the ~ th~g, you mean it is fashionable or popular. (INFORMAL)
A few years ago jogg~g was the ~ th~g...
ADJ
2.
You use ~ with a present participle to ~dicate that when you do someth~g, someth~g else happens as a result.
In work~g with others, you f~d out more about yourself.
PREP: PREP -~g
3.
If you say that someone is ~ for a shock or a surprise, you mean that they are go~g to experience it.
You might be ~ for a shock at the sheer hard work ~volved...
PHRASE: V ~flects, PHR n
4.
If someone has it ~ for you, they dislike you and try to cause problems for you. (INFORMAL)
The other kids had it ~ for me.
PHRASE: V ~flects, PHR n
5.
If you are ~ on someth~g, you are ~volved ~ it or know about it.
I don’t know. I wasn’t ~ on that particular argument...
PREP-PHRASE: v-l~k PREP n, v n PREP n
6.
If you are ~ with a person or group, they like you and accept you, and are likely to help you. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: PHR n
7.
You use ~ that to ~troduce an explanation of a statement you have just made.
I’m lucky ~ that I’ve got four sisters.
PHRASE
8.
The ~s and outs of a situation are all the detailed po~ts and facts about it.
...the ~s and outs of high f~ance...
PHRASE: usu the PHR of n/-~g