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Nugso Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Break In/ Break Into
Hi!
I'm a bit confused about use of break in and break into. Break in means 'force entry to a building' while break into means enter forcibly. Unfortunately I see no difference between them, at all.
Somebody broke in last night last night and stole my PC.
The policeman got to break into the house in order to rescue my sister.
Cant I use break in the second sentence instead of break into?
Also, it looks like broke in means force entry to a building for the purpose of doing something bad whilst break into means force entry to a building so as to do something good.
Furthermore; I used 'so as to' and 'for the purpose of' first time. Did I use them correctly?
Thanks.
I'm a bit confused about use of break in and break into. Break in means 'force entry to a building' while break into means enter forcibly. Unfortunately I see no difference between them, at all.
Somebody broke in last night last night and stole my PC.
The policeman got to break into the house in order to rescue my sister.
Cant I use break in the second sentence instead of break into?
Also, it looks like broke in means force entry to a building for the purpose of doing something bad whilst break into means force entry to a building so as to do something good.
Furthermore; I used 'so as to' and 'for the purpose of' first time. Did I use them correctly?
Thanks.
Top answer
We normally (in British English) use 'break in' intransitively, and 'break into' with an object. The policemen therefore broke into the house, not in it. There is no difference in the force used, the damage done, or the motives behind the act, between 'break into (a building)' and 'break in'.
- We normally (in British English) use 'break in' intransitively, and 'break into' with an object.
- The policemen therefore broke into the house, not in it.
- There is no difference in the force used, the damage done, or the motives behind the act, between 'break into (a building)' and 'break in'.
- Context tells us whether the act of breaking in was for criminal purposes or not.
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7 Answers
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We normally (in British English) use 'break in' intransitively, and 'break into' with an object. The policemen therefore broke into the house, not in it. There is no difference in the force used, the damage done, or the motives behind the act, between 'break into (a building)' and 'break in'. Context tells us whether the act of breaking in was for criminal purposes or not.
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It is also true in American English.
Break in - a criminal activity
Break into - using force to gain entry. I had to break into my own house because the door closed and locked. I had left my key inside
Break in - a criminal activity
Break into - using force to gain entry. I had to break into my own house because the door closed and locked. I had left my key inside
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AlpheccaStarsBreak in - a criminal activity.'Break in' is not necessarily criminal.
I lost my office keys yesterday, so I had to break in before I could begin work.
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As a native speaker, I would use "break into" my desk /my office / my house, etc.
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Hi,
Sometimes these two are interchanged.
But here's the common usage.
'break in' is often used intransitively.
eg Tom forgot his key. He broke in by smashing a window.
Sometimes these two are interchanged.
But here's the common usage.
'break in' is often used intransitively.
eg Tom forgot his key. He broke in by smashing a window.
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Hi!
Thank you all! Yes Clive, you're right. But since I think my last question relevant to the first one, I felt like I did not have to start a new thread. Sorry.
Thank you all! Yes Clive, you're right. But since I think my last question relevant to the first one, I felt like I did not have to start a new thread. Sorry.
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So would I, if I were using 'break into'.
However, If I happened to start talking about the situation by mentioning the loss of my office keys, I might well say: "I lost my office keys yesterday, so I had to break in before I could begin work"
I am not suggesting that one way of talking about the situation is better, or more correct, than the other. I am merely saying that
However, If I happened to start talking about the situation by mentioning the loss of my office keys, I might well say: "I lost my office keys yesterday, so I had to break in before I could begin work"
I am not suggesting that one way of talking about the situation is better, or more correct, than the other. I am merely saying that
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