What Does “Turn in sth” Mean?
“Turn in sth” means to submit or hand over something, usually documents, homework, or a report.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “turn in sth” is commonly used when talking about giving something to a person or authority, especially in formal or academic settings. Understanding the Turn in sth meaning helps learners use it correctly when submitting assignments, reports, or even when going to bed (in a different sense). This phrase is versatile and appears in everyday English. Knowing how to use it properly will improve your communication skills and make your English sound natural.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: turn in something
- Type: transitive
- Level: A2-B1
- Short meaning: to submit or hand over something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Turn in sth” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object (something) can come between “turn” and “in” or after the full phrasal verb.
- Turn in + object: turn in the report
- Turn + object + in: turn the report in
Both forms are correct, but the object must be a noun or pronoun. When using a pronoun, it must come between the verb and the particle: turn it in, not turn in it.
How to Use Turn in sth?
Use “turn in sth” when talking about submitting or handing over physical or digital items like homework, reports, or forms. It can also be used informally to mean going to bed.
Examples of use include:
- Turning in your assignment before the deadline.
- Turning in a police report.
- Informally, saying “I’m going to turn in early tonight” means going to sleep.
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “turn in sth in a sentence”:
- She needs to turn in her application by Friday.
- Don’t forget to turn in your homework before class starts.
- He turned in the missing documents to the office.
- After a long day, I decided to turn in early.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the order of words in this phrasal verb. Here are some examples:
- Incorrect: I will turn in it tomorrow.
- Correct: I will turn it in tomorrow.
- Incorrect: Please turn in your report it now.
- Correct: Please turn in your report now.
Remember, when the object is a pronoun, it must come between “turn” and “in.”
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include:
- Hand in: Also means to submit something, often used interchangeably with “turn in.”
- Give in: Means to surrender or agree reluctantly, different meaning.
- Check in: Means to register at a hotel or airport, unrelated meaning.
“Turn in” and “hand in” are very close in meaning, but “turn in” is more common in American English, while “hand in” is preferred in British English.
Common Collocations
People often use “turn in” with specific objects. Here are common collocations:
- Turn in homework: Submit school assignments.
- Turn in a report: Submit a formal document.
- Turn in a form: Submit official paperwork.
- Turn in a ticket: Submit a ticket or receipt.
- Turn in a suspect: Report someone to the police.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of turn in sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “turn in sth”:
Teacher: Have you turned in your science project yet?
Student: Yes, I turned it in yesterday afternoon.
Teacher: Great! Make sure everyone turns in their projects by Friday.
Practice
Try filling in the blanks with the correct form of “turn in sth”:
- I need to _________ my essay before midnight.
- Did you _________ the permission slip to the teacher?
- She always _________ her assignments on time.
Answers:
- turn in
- turn in
- turns in
FAQ
- What does “turn in sth” mean? It means to submit or hand over something, often documents or homework.
- Is “turn in” separable? Yes, you can place the object between “turn” and “in” or after both.
- Can I use “turn in” to mean going to bed? Yes, informally “turn in” can mean to go to sleep.
- Is “turn in” the same as “hand in”? They are similar, but “turn in” is more common in American English.
- How do I use a pronoun with “turn in”? The pronoun must come between the verb and the particle, e.g., “turn it in.”
