Lesson

Phrasal verbs 2 - in/out

In and out particles

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Phrasal verbs 2 - in/out

Phrasal verbs with the particles "in" and "out" combine a verb + particle to create meanings related to movement, entry/exit, completion, participation, or data access. Many of these appear in business and everyday contexts, and the particle changes or refines the verb's meaning.

  • They can be separable (object can go between verb and particle) or inseparable.
  • "In" often suggests entering, joining, adding, or completing.
  • "Out" often suggests leaving, distributing, removing, or making something public.

Table

Common phrasal verbs with 'in' and 'out'

Phrasal verb Meaning Example
check in register at a hotel or arrivals desk Please check in at reception when you arrive.
check out leave a hotel; also examine or verify We checked out of the hotel at 11 AM.
log in access an account or system Log in to the company portal to submit your timesheet.
log out sign out of an account or system Always log out when you finish using the shared computer.
fill in complete a form; also substitute for someone Fill in this form with your contact details.
fill out complete a form (more common in US English) Please fill out the survey before Friday.
hand in submit a document or assignment Hand in your expense report by Monday.
hand out distribute materials or items The trainer handed out the agenda to participants.
bring in introduce, hire, or earn revenue The campaign brought in several new accounts.
bring out release or emphasize a feature The update brings out better performance in the app.
move in start living or using a new space The new team will move in next month.
move out leave a place or office They decided to move out of the shared office space.
drop in visit briefly or unexpectedly I dropped in on the meeting for five minutes.
drop out leave a course, program, or process She dropped out of the professional course.

Tip

Key rule: separable vs inseparable

One essential rule for phrasal verbs: know whether the verb is separable (object can come between verb and particle) or inseparable (object must follow the particle).

  • Separable: You can say "hand the report in" or "hand in the report"; with a pronoun, put it between: "hand it in".
  • Inseparable: The object must come after the particle: "look after the client" (not *"look the client after").
  • Many 'in'/'out' phrasal verbs are separable, but always check dictionary examples or practice.

Practice placement with pronouns: pronoun objects go BETWEEN verb + particle for separable phrasal verbs.

Example

Examples in context

Please log in to the portal before the meeting.

She handed out the training materials to the team.

We need to fill in the expense report by Monday.

They checked out the new procedures during the audit.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Learners often make predictable errors with phrasal verbs. Watch for these universal pitfalls:

  • Placing pronoun objects after the particle for separable verbs (incorrect: *"turn off it").
  • Treating every particle as having the same meaning — different particles change the verb's sense.
  • Confusing separable and inseparable verbs and moving the object to the wrong position.
  • Using literal translations that ignore idiomatic meanings (translating word-for-word).
  • Forgetting to adjust the particle when changing tense or voice (e.g., passive forms require different structure).

When in doubt, check examples in a reliable dictionary or corpus to confirm particle usage.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Think about pronoun placement with separable phrasal verbs.

Quiz

Complete: Please _____ to the company portal before the meeting.

Hint: Think about how to access an online account.

Quiz

Choose the correct meaning of 'move out' in this sentence: 'The sales team will move out of the old office next month.'

Hint: Consider what 'out' suggests about direction or departure.

Key Points

Vocabulary

log in

phrasal verb CEFR A2 //lɒɡ ˈɪn//

to access an account or computer system

Please log in to the portal to check your schedule.

Vocabulary

hand in

phrasal verb CEFR B1 //hænd ɪn//

to submit a document or assignment

She handed in the final report on Friday.

Vocabulary

hand out

phrasal verb CEFR A2 //hænd aʊt//

to distribute materials or items to people

The manager handed out the agenda at the start of the meeting.

Vocabulary

fill in

phrasal verb CEFR A2 //fɪl ɪn//

to complete a form or provide missing information

Please fill in the expense form and send it to accounting.

Vocabulary

bring in

phrasal verb CEFR B1 //brɪŋ ɪn//

to generate revenue or to introduce/hire someone

The new contract brought in significant revenue this quarter.

Vocabulary

move out

phrasal verb CEFR B1 //muːv aʊt//

to leave a residence or office, usually permanently or for a long time

They will move out of the shared office next month.