A Pro Guide to Using Preposition In - Uses, Rules and Examples

"In" is a very common preposition which functions as a preposition of time and place and has various meanings and uses which this article deals with in great details. Give it a full reading to learn the uses of the preposition in, meaning, rules and examples. 

This article covers:

• Meanings of Preposition In
• Uses of Preposition In
• In as Preposition of Time 
• In as Preposition of Place

Before you learn the uses of preposition in with examples, you need to once go through the various meanings of it. Mastering the different meanings of the preposition in helps you clearly understand a statement containing in preposition. 

Different Meanings of Preposition In

The preposition in is used to express a variety of meanings such as "inside something or some place", "part of something", "before the end of some time", "during some period of time", etc. 

Learn all the ten meanings of the preposition in with example sentences and then go through the various uses of it. 

A. Inside something or some place 

The preposition in is used to express the meaning that something or someone is inside something or some place. 

For example:

• There's little water in the bottle.
• She's in Delhi. 

B. "During part or all of a period of time"

The preposition in is used to convey the meaning that something happens or is done during part or all of a period of time. 

For example: 

• We'll visit India in April.
• We will go to England in 2025. 
• I used to go to gym in the summer season.

C. Before the end of a particular amount of time 

The preposition in is used to indicate that something happens or is done before the end of a particular amount of time. 

For example:

• I'll finish writing this book in three months.
• Call me in five minutes.
• Submit your homework in a week. 

D. Part of something

The preposition in is used to show that something is part of something else. 

For example:

• Look at the man in the picture.
• Correct the grammatical errors in the article.

E. Involvement in a particular job 

The preposition in is used to imply that someone's involved in some certain job or career. 

For example:

• John made a career in journalism.
• She wants to make a career in politics or teaching.

F. Attached to a particular subject or field of study

The preposition in is used to show that something is connected with a certain subject or field of study.

For example:

• I want to earn a degree in English literature.
• There's recently been a significant advancement in AI (Artificial Intelligence).

G. Wearing a particular cloth

The preposition in is used to suggest that someone is wearing some particular cloth. 

For example:

• Have you seen the woman in red saree?
• The man in blue suit is your teacher. 

H. Expressed in a particular manner

The preposition in is used to state that something has been expressed or written in a particular language or a particular way. 

For example:

• John spoke to me in French. 
• He wrote in blue ink. 

I. Arranged in a certain way 

The preposition in is used to show that something or someone is arrange in a particular way.

For example:

• The students sat down in a circle.
• The words are arranged in alphabetical order.

J. Showing a state of being, mood or emotion 

The preposition in is used to express the fact that someone in a bad mood or something is in a terrible condition.

For example:

• The phone is in a bad condition.
• The laptop is in a terrible state. 
• She's in a bad mood. 

Uses of Preposition In

A. In for space and place

Examples: 

• They are in the classroom.
• The cat is in the box.
• Sofia is in the house.

B. In for territories 

Examples:

• We live in India.
• The philosophers in the West are well-known.
• No one in the world is perfect.

C. In for water bodies

Examples:

• Fish lives in the sea.
• There's a lot of salt in the ocean.
• We used to swim in the lake.  

D. In for parts of days 

Examples:

• I'll be there in two minutes.
• You'll be back in three hours.
• We have breakfast/lunch/dinner in the morning/afternoon/evening.

E. In for parts of months 

Examples:

• You have to return in five days.
• Submit your homework in two weeks.

F. In for parts of years

Examples:

• I'll go to my house in January.
• The sessional exam will be conducted in April.

G. In for season of the year

Examples:

• Should we visit Zurich in summer or winter?
• Should I visit your home in spring or autumn?

H. In for years and centuries

Examples:

• She was born in 1999.
• Sofia became popular in the 1990's.
• This book was written in the twentieth century.

Also read: Uses of At Preposition 

More Examples of In Preposition in Sentences 

1. I'll call you in ten minutes.

2. Why are you in the classroom now?

3. I was in Delhi.

4. Sofia was born in 2020.

5. This book was written in the 17th century.

6. You should visit my hometown in the summer season.

7. The man in blue suit is my teacher.

8. There's a lot of salt in the river.

9. I love to swim in this lake. 

In Preposition of Place Examples

1. He was in Mumbai at that time.

2. The students are playing in the park.

3. He'll be in his office now.

4. You can meet me in my chamber.

5. The department of English is in the Faculty of Arts.

6. Sofia is in the garden.

7. Your products are in the warehouse.

8. My books are in the bag.

9. They are playing in the hokey ground.

In Preposition of Time 

1. I'll be with you in an hour.

2. You have to finish reading this novel in one week.

3. You can learn only the basics of English grammar in three months.

4. The students will now earn their undergraduate degrees in four years.

5. We can learn to speak English in a year.

6. I'll return it in two days.

7. We usually take a walk in the morning.

8. I usually take a nap in the afternoon.

9. Why are you sleeping in the evening.

FAQs - In Preposition Use

What is the use of in preposition? 

1. In for place 

2. In for time 

3. In for parts of days 

4. In for parts of months

5. In for parts of years 

6. In for seasons of the year 

7. In for water bodies 

8. In for territories

9. In for centuries

How to use preposition in in English grammar? 

In English grammar, in is used to express time and place as in "He was born in 2012." and "Sofia will be in her office now."

What are 10 examples of in preposition

1. I'll call you in ten minutes.

2. Why are you in the classroom now?

3. I was in Delhi.

4. Sofia was born in 2020.

5. This book was written in the 17th century.

6. You should visit my hometown in the summer season.

7. The man in blue suit is my teacher.

8. There's a lot of salt in the river.

9. I love to swim in this lake.

10. He'll return in two days.

What is the rule of in preposition?

1. As a preposition, "in" must have an object of preposition which will be used after it. 

2. As a preposition, "in" is used before its object, noun, noun phrase or pronoun.

3. The pronouns used as objects of the preposition "in" must be in objective case.