Intermediate grammar · Unit 138 · B2

Phrasal verbs 2 in/out

Phrasal verbs

In and out add the idea of entering or leaving a place. This unit covers that basic meaning, the difference between in/into and out/out of, and common phrasal verbs such as drop in, fill in, eat out and leave out.

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A in and out: entering and leaving

in = into a room, a building, a car, water and so on. out = out of it.

in out
get in, go in, come in, walk in, break in get out, go out, move out, let somebody out
let yourself in be locked out
dive in climb out
move in (to a new home) look out (of a window)
check in (at a hotel or airport) check out (of a hotel)

Use in and out without an object. With an object, use into and out of: I'm moving in on Saturday. but I'm moving into the new flat on Saturday. In the same way, she climbed out but she climbed out of the river.

  • How did the burglars get in?
  • Here's a spare key, so you can let yourself in.
  • Rhian ran to the end of the jetty and jumped in.
  • We collect the keys on Thursday and move in at the weekend.
  • We checked in at the hotel just before midnight.
  • Stay in the car. Don't get out.
  • I left my keys on the kitchen table and locked myself out.
  • We paid the bill and checked out of the hotel.

B Other verbs + in

Phrasal verb Meaning
drop in visit somebody at home without arranging it first
join in take part in something that has already started
plug in a machine connect it to the electricity supply
take somebody in deceive somebody (usually passive: be taken in)
fill in or fill out a form write the information it asks for
  • I dropped in on my aunt on my way back from town.
  • The children were playing football in the park, so I joined in.
  • The heater's cold because you haven't plugged it in.
  • He said he was collecting for the hospice, and I was completely taken in.
  • Please fill in the form and return it by 30 April. (or fill out the form)

C Other verbs + out

Phrasal verb Meaning
eat out eat at a restaurant, not at home
drop out of college, a course, a race stop before the end
get out of something you arranged to do avoid doing it
leave something out not include it
cross something out draw a line through it
  • The fridge was empty, so we decided to eat out.
  • Callum started a law degree but dropped out in the second year.
  • I said I'd help at the jumble sale. I'd rather not, but I can't get out of it now.
  • In "I think that he's right", you can leave out the word "that".
  • Several names on the rota had been crossed out.

Exercises

138.1 Complete the sentences with one word (a verb in the correct form).

  1. I've given you a spare key so that you can let yourself in.

    I've given you a spare key so that you can let yourself in.

  2. Imran hates washing up, so he out most nights.

  3. If you're ever passing our house, in for a cup of tea.

  4. Would you mind in this short survey? It only takes two minutes.

  5. Danny doesn't live here any more. He out in June.

  6. We out of the guest house at ten and drove to Conwy.

  7. I wanted to dry my hair, but there was nowhere to the hairdryer in.

  8. Holly started a pottery course, but she out after three weeks.

  9. Careful! The pond is very shallow, so don't in.

138.2 Complete the sentences with in, into, out or out of.

  1. We've bought a house. We're moving in next month.

    We've bought a house. We're moving in next month.

  2. We got to the guest house at six and checked .

  3. When are you moving the new house?

  4. The taxi stopped and the passenger got .

  5. Burglars broke the post office and took the safe.

  6. How did the burglars get ? Through the roof?

  7. I opened the cupboard and a pile of tins fell .

  8. Craig lost his temper and stormed the room.

138.3 Complete the sentences using a verb with in or out (of). Use the correct form of the verb.

  1. Ffion walked to the end of the jetty, dived in and swam back to the beach.

    Ffion walked to the end of the jetty, dived in and swam back to the beach.

  2. Not everybody finished the marathon. Twelve of the runners .

  3. I went to see Kate and Sam in their new bungalow. They a fortnight ago.

  4. I've given you all the details you need. I don't think I've anything.

  5. A few fans started clapping along. Then others , and soon the whole ground was clapping.

  6. Don't be by his charm. He has borrowed money from half the street.

  7. I to see Grandma on my way home from work. She was in good spirits.

138.4 Complete the answers. Use the verb in brackets in the correct form, with a pronoun and in or out.

  1. "The kettle won't boil." "That's because you haven't plugged it in." (plug)

    "The kettle won't boil." "That's because you haven't plugged it in."

  2. "What do I do with these forms?" " and post them to this address." (fill)

  3. "I've spelt my surname wrong on the form." "Never mind. Just and write it again." (cross)

  4. "Did you get into the club?" "No. They wouldn't because we didn't have any ID." (let)

  5. "Can you come to the dinner on Friday?" "Probably. I've agreed to babysit, but I think I can ." (get)

138.5 Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use a verb from section B or C, beginning with the words in brackets.

  1. Let's go to a restaurant tonight. (Let's ...)

    Let's eat out tonight.

    Let's eat out tonight.

  2. Why didn't you finish the course? (Why did you ...)

  3. Please complete the registration form. (Please ...)

  4. I can't avoid going to the staff party. (I can't ...)

  5. I thought the text message was genuine, but it wasn't. (I was completely ...)

  6. You must come and see us when you're in Bristol. (You must ...)

  7. Ayesha was upset because she wasn't chosen for the choir. (Ayesha was upset because she ...)

See also