特徵、方面與方式、心情、成語慣用in
特徵或狀態：
例: the democratic party was then in power. 那時民主黨執政。
they found the patient in a coma. 他們發現病人處於昏迷狀態。
he has not been in good health for some years. 他幾年來身體一直不好。
many who came in despair went away in hope. 許多人帶著絕望情緒而來，卻滿懷希望而去。
the house was in ruins. 這房屋成了廢墟。
the poor girl was in tears. 這個貧苦女孩淚流滿面。
her clothes were in rags. 她的衣跟穿破了。
his shoes were in holes. 他的鞋穿出窟窿了。
i only said it in fun. 我說這話只是開玩笑的。
she spoke in grief rather than in anger. 與其說她講得很氣憤，不如說她講得很傷心。
還有一些短語也用in，如：
in jest 詼諧地，in joke 開玩笑地，in spite 惡意地， in fairness 公正地，in revenge 報復, in mercy 寬大，in sorrow 傷心地等。
his mind was in great confusion. 他腦子裡很亂。
today everybody is in high spirits and no one is in low ebb. 今天大家都興高采烈，沒有一個情緒低落的。
she and her classmates are in flower ages. 她和她的同學都正值妙齡。
the compaign was in full swing. 運動正值高潮中。
方面：
例：we accepted the item in principle. 我們在原則上接受了這個條款。
they are never backward in giving their views. 他們從來不怕發表自己的意見。
the backward area has achieved self-sufficient in grain. 這個落後的地區在糧食方面已能自給。
a good teacher must be an example in study. 一個好的教師必須是學習的模範。
方式：
例：all the speeches were taken down in shorthand. 所有報告都用速記記錄下來了。
the party has always educated us in the spirit of patriotism and internationalism. 黨一貫以愛國主義和國際主義精神教育我們。
如下成語慣用in
例如： in all 總計
in advance 事前
in the meantime 與此同時
in place 適當地
in hopes of(或in the hope of) 懷著.......希望
in connection with 和……有關
in contact with 和……聯繫
in addition to 除......以外
in case of 倘若，萬一
in conflict with 和......衝突
in force 有效的，大批
in depth 徹底地
in regard to 關於
in the neighborhood of 大約、鄰近
in retrospect 回顧，一想起
in behalf of 代表......利益
in the least 一點，絲毫
in alarm 驚慌、擔心
in the opinion of 據……見解
in the long run 從長遠說來
in one's opinion 在……看來
in word 口頭上
in a word 總之
in vain 無益地, 白白地
in case 如果，萬一，以防
in detail 詳細地
in haste 急急忙忙地
in conclusion 總之
in spite of 儘管
in other words... 換句話說
in return 作為回報
in the name of 以......名義
be confident in 對......有信心
be interested in 對......感興趣
in doubt 懷疑
in love 戀愛中
in debt 負債
in fun (jest、joke) 玩笑地
in hesitation 猶豫不決
in wonder 在驚奇中
in public (secret) 公開他(秘密地)
in a good humour 心情(情緒)好
"介詞at、to表方向，攻擊、位置、善、惡、分"。
介詞at和to都可以表示方向; 用at表示方向時，側重於攻擊的目標，往往表示惡意；用to表示方向時，突出運動的位置或動作的對象，側重表示善意。試比較下列各句：
1. a．she came at me. 她向我撲過來。
b．she came to me. 她向我走過來。
2．a．jake ran at john. 幾 傑克向約翰撲過去。
b．jake ran to john. 傑克朝約翰跑去。
3．a. he rushed at the woman with a sword. 他拿著劍向那婦女撲過去。
b. he rushed to the woman with a sword. 他帶著劍向那婦女跑過去。
4．a．he shouted at the old man. 他大聲喝斥那老人。
b. he shouted to the old man. 他大聲向那老人說
5．a．i heard her muttering at xiao li. 我聽見她在抱怨小李。
b．i heard her muttering to xiao li. 我聽見她在同小李低聲說話。
6．a. she talked at you just now. 她剛才還說你壞話呢。
b．she talked to you just now. 她剛才還同你談話呢.
7．a．she threw a bone at the dog. 她用一塊骨頭砸狗。
b．she threw a bone to the dog. 她把一塊骨頭扔給狗吃。
8．a．he presented a pistol at me. 他用手槍對著我。
b．he presented a pistol to me. 他贈送我一支手槍。