Phrasal verb
hand in
Definition
phrasal verb. to give a piece of work or a document to someone in authority, like a teacher or a boss.
phrasal verb. to submit a completed assignment, document, or item to a person in a position of authority for review or processing.
Examples
“Please hand in your homework by Friday.”
“After finishing the exam, the students walked to the front of the room to hand in their papers.”
“The employee decided to hand in his resignation after receiving a much better offer from a rival firm.”
Examples
simple
“Please hand in your homework by Friday.”
contextual
“After finishing the exam, the students walked to the front of the room to hand in their papers.”
complex
“The employee decided to hand in his resignation after receiving a much better offer from a rival firm.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hand in” in context.
Verb
01. forget to hand in the homework
“I forgot to hand in my homework this morning because I left it on the kitchen table.”
verb + infinitive
02. hand in a resignation letter
“She decided to hand in her resignation letter after finding a better job in London.”
verb + noun
03. hand in the assignment late
“If you hand in your assignment late, the teacher will reduce your final grade.”
verb + noun + adv
04. hand in the completed form
“You must hand in the completed form at the reception desk to register for the course.”
verb + adj + noun
05. hand in the final report
“The team worked all night to hand in the final report before the deadline.”
verb + adj + noun
06. hand in the keys to the manager
“Please hand in your room keys to the manager before you leave the hotel.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Usage
often used with school assignments, official forms, or legal documents.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'give in' (which can also mean to surrender) and 'submit' (the more formal equivalent used in academic or professional writing).
Pitfall
I handed in it late.
I handed it in late.
when the object is a pronoun like 'it', it must go between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
in
Separability
optional
Pattern
hand + (object) + in
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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