What is into? Pronunciation and usage in English

into means . Learn how to pronounce and use into through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of into

intopreposition

/ˈɪntuː//ˈɪntʊ//ˈɪntə/
Definition & pronunciation of into

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "into" in English! It's a tricky one for some learners because it doesn't follow typical English pronunciation rules.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Basic Sound:

  • The core sound is /ɪnˈtuː/ (This is the IPA, or International Phonetic Alphabet – it’s a system for representing sounds precisely.)

2. Syllable Breakdown:

  • "in": This is pronounced just like the word "in," with a short "i" sound: /ɪn/
  • "to": This is pronounced with a slightly longer vowel sound, affecting the whole word.
  • "into": The "to" part is what makes it tricky. It's not a simple "to."

3. How to Pronounce the "to" part:

  • Think of it like "tin-to," but much quicker. It's almost like you're saying "tin" and then immediately following it with "to."
  • The vowel sound is a diphthong: This means it's a combination of two vowel sounds blended together. Specifically, it's a blend of the "i" sound (/ɪ/) and the "oo" sound (/ʊ/).
  • It’s a short “oo” sound, not a long “oo” like in “moon”.

4. Putting it all together:

Listen to these versions for a real feel for it:

Tips for Practice:

  • Break it down: Practice saying "in" and then quickly transitioning to the "tin-to" sound.
  • Slow it down: Don't rush! Focus on getting the vowel sounds right.
  • Record yourself: Listen back to see how you sound and compare it to native speakers.

Do you want me to:

  • Give you some example sentences using "into"?
  • Focus on a specific aspect of the pronunciation (like the vowel sound)?

Usage and examples with the word into in English

Let's break down how to use the word "into" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a bunch of different functions! Here's a detailed explanation, categorized for clarity:

1. Movement & Transition (Most Common)

  • Entering a space: This is the most familiar usage. “I walked into the room.” “She stepped into the car.” "They drove into the city." It indicates the start of being within a space.
  • Moving toward something: "He ran into the forest." “The river flowed into the sea.” “The path led into the valley.” It signifies a direction of movement.

2. Becoming or Changing State

  • Changing to a new state/condition: "He turned into a grumpy old man." “She transformed into a beautiful princess." "The weather changed into a storm.” Here, "into" shows a shift from one state to another.
  • Becoming involved or absorbed: "He was completely absorbed into the book.” “She became deeply involved into the project.” “He was drawn into the drama.” This indicates being overtaken or engaged.

3. Cause or Reason (Often with "to")

  • Leading to something: "The rain brought into the flood." "The broken window led into the damage." Use with ‘to’ to describe the result. “His mistake brought into trouble.” (Note: often you'd say “into trouble” - a fixed phrase)
  • Creating a situation: "His actions brought into question his honesty.” “The new policy will put into effect next month.” (Again, “into effect” is a common phrase)

4. Adding or Incorporating

  • Adding something: “I’m going into baking.” “He's into politics now.” (Meaning: interested in/involved with)
  • Including something: "Let’s put into the list of things to buy.” “He added into the mixture more flour.”

5. Expressing Desire or Interest

  • Interested in something: "She’s into photography." “He’s into collecting stamps.” (Meaning: has a strong interest in)
  • Desiring something: "He's into learning a new language." (Meaning: wants to)

6. Phrasal Verbs – Very Important!

"Into" is a core part of many phrasal verbs. These combinations create new meanings. Here are some common ones:

  • Get into: To start enjoying something: “I’m getting into yoga.”
  • Go into: To enter a place, to start something: “Let’s go into the store.” "They are going into production next year."
  • Look into: To investigate something: “I need to look into this matter.”
  • Run into: To unexpectedly meet someone: “I ran into an old friend at the supermarket.”
  • Fill into: To complete a form: “Please fill into this application.”
  • Come into: To receive money or property: “She came into a large inheritance.”

Helpful Tips & Considerations:

  • “Into” vs. “In”: "Into" is usually used for movement or entering a space. "In" is generally used for location inside something. For example: "He's in the house" vs. "He walked into the house."

  • "Into to" is incorrect: You generally only use “into” once. If you need the “to” part, use "to" alone. (“He drove to the store.” NOT “He drove into to the store.”)

  • Context is Key: The precise meaning of "into" depends heavily on the context of the sentence.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Can you give me an example sentence you’re struggling with using “into”? Seeing it in context will allow me to explain it more precisely.
  • Are there any specific uses of “into” you'd like me to elaborate on? (e.g., phrasal verbs, a particular domain like business language, etc.)

Synonyms for the word into

Idioms of the word into

be into something
(informal)to be interested in something in an active way
  • He's into surfing in a big way.
be into somebody for something
(US English, informal)to owe somebody money or be owed money by somebody
  • By the time he'd fixed the leak, I was into him for $500.
  • The bank was into her for $100 000.

Practice with vocabulary into

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The caterpillar transformed ____ a beautiful butterfly over several weeks.
  2. We need to look ____ the specifics of the proposal before making a decision.
  3. The conference delegates gathered ____ the main auditorium for the opening remarks.
  4. She expressed great enthusiasm ____ the upcoming project.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (select all that apply)

  1. After the merger, the two companies were effectively integrated ____ a single, larger entity. a) with b) into c) between d) for

  2. Scientists are conducting extensive research ____ the potential applications of this new technology. a) on b) about c) into d) for

  3. The consultant spent hours going ____ the financial reports, identifying discrepancies. a) over b) through c) into d) across

  4. The new policy applies ____ all employees, regardless of their department. a) for b) on c) to d) with

  5. She meticulously arranged the books ____ the shelf by genre. a) on b) over c) upon d) into

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The old factory building was converted to serve as a modern art gallery. Rewrite: The old factory building was converted ______ a modern art gallery.

  2. Original: We need to investigate the root causes of the recurring system errors. Rewrite: We need to look deeply ______ the root causes of the recurring system errors.

  3. Original: He found great satisfaction in his new role, becoming completely engrossed. Rewrite: He became completely absorbed ______ his new role, finding great satisfaction.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The caterpillar transformed into a beautiful butterfly over several weeks.
  2. We need to look into the specifics of the proposal before making a decision.
  3. The conference delegates gathered in the main auditorium for the opening remarks.
  4. She expressed great enthusiasm for the upcoming project. (Also acceptable: about)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. b) into
  2. a) on, b) about, c) into
  3. b) through, c) into
  4. c) to
  5. a) on, c) upon

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The old factory building was converted into a modern art gallery.
  2. We need to look deeply into the root causes of the recurring system errors.
  3. He became completely absorbed in his new role, finding great satisfaction.

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