ENGLISH
REFERENCE

succeed in doing sth

fixed phr..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

fixed phr.. to manage to do something you have been trying to do. You use this when you reach a goal after putting in effort.

fixed phr.. to achieve a desired aim or result through effort or persistence; specifically used with the preposition 'in' followed by a gerund (-ing form).


SIMPLE

She succeeded in finishing the marathon.

CONTEXTUAL

After several attempts, the team finally succeeded in solving the technical problem.

COMPLEX

Despite the economic downturn, the startup succeeded in securing enough venture capital to expand into international markets.

Usage

always followed by the preposition 'in' and a gerund or a noun.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'manage to do' (followed by infinitive) and 'achieve' (usually followed by a noun); emphasize that 'succeed to do' is a common error.

Pitfall

He succeeded to pass the exam.He succeeded in passing the exam.the verb 'succeed' requires the preposition 'in' followed by a gerund, not a 'to' infinitive.

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