What Does “Put in sth to” Mean?
“Put in sth to” means to submit or offer something, such as a request, effort, or work, for consideration or approval.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “put in sth to” is commonly used in English when talking about submitting something formally or making an effort toward a goal. Understanding the Put in sth to meaning helps learners express actions like filing requests, investing time, or adding effort in various situations. It is useful in both professional and casual conversations, making your English sound more natural and clear.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: put in something to
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To submit or offer something for consideration
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Put in sth to” is a separable phrasal verb, meaning the object (sth) can come between “put in” and “to” or after “to”.
- Pattern 1: put in something to
- Pattern 2: put something in to
Example: “She put in her application to the company.” or “She put her application in to the company.”
How to Use Put in sth to?
You can use “put in sth to” when talking about submitting documents, requests, or efforts to a person, organization, or system. It often refers to formal or official actions.
- Put in a request to the manager.
- Put in extra hours to finish the project.
- Put in a complaint to customer service.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “Put in sth to”:
- She put in her resignation to the HR department last week.
- We need to put in more effort to meet the deadline.
- He put in a request to change his work schedule.
- They put in a bid to win the contract.
- Put in your application to the university before the deadline.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes learners confuse the placement of the object or the preposition “to”.
- Incorrect: She put her resignation to in the HR department.
- Correct: She put in her resignation to the HR department.
- Incorrect: Put in to your application the school.
- Correct: Put in your application to the school.
Differences / Synonyms
“Put in sth to” is similar to “submit” or “offer,” but it often implies effort or official action.
- Put in sth to: submit or offer formally
- Hand in sth: physically give a document
- Send in sth: send something for consideration
- Apply for: request officially, often for jobs or schools
The key difference is that “put in sth to” often focuses on the act of submitting or investing effort toward a recipient or goal.
Common Collocations
Here are common objects paired with “put in” and their meanings:
- Put in an application – submit a formal request
- Put in a complaint – officially report a problem
- Put in effort – invest time or work
- Put in a request – ask formally for something
- Put in hours – work for a certain amount of time
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of put in sth to:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “put in sth to”:
Anna: Have you put in your application to the new job yet?
Mark: Yes, I put it in yesterday. Now I’m just waiting to hear back.
Anna: Great! I put in a request to work from home next week.
Mark: Nice, I hope they approve it.
Practice
Complete the sentences with the correct form of “put in sth to”:
- She _______ her complaint _______ customer service last Monday.
- We need to _______ more effort _______ this project.
- He _______ his application _______ the university on time.
Answers: put in / to; put in / to; put in / to
FAQ
- What does “put in sth to” mean? It means to submit or offer something for consideration or approval.
- Is “put in sth to” formal or informal? It is mostly used in formal or semi-formal contexts.
- Can I separate the object from “put in”? Yes, the object can come between “put in” and “to” or after “to”.
- What are common objects used with this phrasal verb? Application, complaint, request, effort, hours.
- Is it similar to “submit”? Yes, but “put in sth to” often emphasizes the act of offering or investing effort.
