ENGLISH
REFERENCE

come into sth

phr. v..
A1 Beginner Oxford

phr. v.. To get money or property from someone after they die. This is also called inheriting.

phr. v.. To receive money, property, or a title by inheritance. This is a transitive and inseparable phrasal verb.


SIMPLE

She came into a small fortune.

CONTEXTUAL

After his grandfather passed away, he came into enough money to buy a house.

COMPLEX

Upon the death of the reclusive duke, the young man unexpectedly came into a vast estate and a title he was unprepared for.

Particles
into
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
come + into + object
Usage

The object is almost always a form of wealth or property, like 'money', 'a fortune', or 'an estate'.

Teaching tip

Contrast 'come into' (to receive an inheritance) with 'go into' (to enter a profession or state), as learners may confuse the prepositions.

Pitfall

He came to a lot of money.He came into a lot of money.The correct particle is 'into', not 'to', for the meaning of 'inherit'.

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