18 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS WITH THE

PREPOSITION IN
TO IMPROVE YOUR SPOKEN ENGLISH!
Do you want to improve your spoken English? One good way is to learn language in chunks – groups of words.
Then, you can use these when you’re speaking. Just to help you with that, we’re looking at some really useful expressions
with the preposition in. Learn them, and then use them when you’re talking, and you’ll sound a lot more natural!
IMPORTANT!
As you’ll see in the examples, we often use the preposition in to describe the condition or state of something, or to say that
something is happening now, or that it’s active, effective and operating.

1 In love with 2 In charge of 3 In writing 4 In a hurry

If you’re “in love with” If you’re “in charge of” a
someone, you like them department (for example),
very much. you are responsible for
“I fell in love with him the the department, or you’re
moment I saw him.” the manager of it.
“Who is in charge of this
department?”
If you put something “in
writing”, you put it in a
document, contract, etc.
“We need to get these
terms and conditions in
writing.”
If you’re “in a hurry”, you
need to go somewhere
quickly.
“I can’t talk right now. I’m
late for a meeting – I’m in
a hurry.”

5 In a mess 6 In advance 7 In good condition 8 In difficulty

If your room (for example)
is “in a mess”, there are
clothes and things on
the floor.
“This room is a mess.
Who’s going to clean it up?”
If you do something “in If your car (for example) If you’re “in difficulty”,
advance”, you do it before is “in good condition”, you have problems and
you need it, or before a it looks new and it isn’t you need help.
particular time. broken, scratched or “I’d be glad to help if
“The restaurant is always dented. you’re in difficulty.”
busy, so we’ll have to “The car is in very good
book in advance.” condition considering
how old it is.”

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9 In cash 10 In fashion 11 In a good/bad mood 12 In debt
If you pay for something If clothes are “in fashion”, If you’re “in a good If you’re “in debt”, you
“in cash”, you pay for it everyone is wearing them. mood”, you feel happy; if owe money to someone
with real money (notes “Those trousers are in you’re in a bad mood, you or a bank, and you must
and coins) – not with a fashion again.” feel angry or sad. pay it back.
credit card, etc. “He isn’t in a good mood “She’s in debt so she
“If you pay in cash, you today.” probably won’t be able to
get a discount.” get another loan.”

13 In detail 14 In doubt 15 In exchange for

If you describe something If you’re “in doubt” about This expression means “in
“in detail”, you describe something, you aren’t return for”. For example, you
everything about it sure what to do or think give your friend a computer,
with all the necessary about it. and your friend gives you an
information. “They’re in doubt about iPad “in exchange for” your
“I’ll describe it in more whether to buy the house computer.
detail in the taxi on the or not.” “I gave Jenny my car in
way to the airport.” exchange for her motorbike.”

GLOSSARY
busy adj
if you’re “busy”, you have a lot of work to
do and not enough time to do it
16 In to book vb
agreement with 17 In confidence 18 In comparison with if you “book” a restaurant (for example),
If you’re “in agreement If someone tells The expression “in you phone the restaurant and tell them
that you’d like a table at a certain time
with” someone, you think you something “in comparison with” means scratched adj
if an object is “scratched”, it has lines or
the same as them. confidence”, they tell you “compared to”. We cuts on its surface
“So, you don’t think a secret. use it to talk about the dented adj
if an object is “dented”, it has small
we should buy the car “I told you that story in differences or similarities holes in it, or areas where the surface has
been hit
right now. Well, I’m in confidence. You weren’t between things. a note n
complete agreement supposed to tell everyone “The film was great in paper money: a £50 “note”, for example
a coin n
with you. We don’t have in the office about it!” comparison to the one we metal money: a 50-pence “coin”, for
example
enough money at the saw last week.” a discount n
moment.” a reduction in the amount of money
you need to pay for something: a 10%
“discount”, for example
to owe vb
if you “owe” money, you must return this
money to someone or a bank because they
gave it to you before
to pay back phr vb
if you “pay back” money, you return it to
someone who gave it to you before
a loan n
an amount of money the bank gives you.
You must return the money with interest

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PREPOSITION IN
EXERCISES
Here are a couple of little exercises to help you learn the expressions.

Answers on page 44

1 Description completion 2 Sentence completion

Complete the descriptions with the words from below. Complete the sentences with the correct words.
1. I gave Jenny my car in e for her
detail mess fashion condition writing charge motorbike.
hurry mood love doubt debt advance confidence 2. She’s in d so she probably won’t be able
to get another loan.
agreement exchange difficulty comparison cash 3. Those trousers are in f again.
4. The film was great in c to the one we
1. If clothes are in , everyone is wearing saw last week.
them. 5. I’m in complete a with you.
2. If you’re in about something, you aren’t 6. If you pay in c , you get a discount.
sure what to do or think about it. 7. They’re in d about whether to buy the
3. If someone tells you something in , they house or not.
tell you a secret. 8. I told you that story in c .
4. If you’re in , you have problems and you 9. I’ll describe it in more d in the taxi on
need help. the way to the airport.
5. If your room is in a , there are clothes 10. The restaurant is always busy, so we’ll have to book in
and things on the floor. a .
6. If you’re in of a department, you are 11. I can’t talk right now – I’m in a h .
responsible for it. 12. I fell in l with him the moment I saw
7. If you’re in , you owe money to him.
someone or a bank. 13. I’d be glad to help if you’re in d .
8. If you’re in with someone, you think the 14. This room is in a m . Who’s going to
same as them. clean it up?
9. We use in with to talk about the 15. We need to get these terms and conditions in w
differences or similarities between things. .
10. If you put something in , you put it in a 16. The car is in very good c considering
document, contract, etc. how old it is.
11. If you’re in with someone, you like them 17. Who is in c of this department?
very much. 18. He isn’t in a good m today. Something
12. If you do something in , you do it before happened, but I’m not sure what it is.
you need it, or before a particular time.
13. If you pay for something in , you pay for
it with real money – not a credit card, etc.
14. If you’re in a good you feel happy.
15. If your car is in good , it looks new and
it isn’t broken, scratched or dented.
16. If you’re in a , you need to go
somewhere quickly.
17. If give a friend an object in for another
one, you give your friend one of your objects, and
your friend gives you one of his/her objects.
18. If you describe something in , you
describe everything about it.

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