The use of "in"

Question

Could you please help me correct these sentences?

Can you use "in" after late?

1 I was late in setting the buffet which is why I left late.

Do you use "in" or "on"

2 I pay a lot of money in/on electricity bills.

Can you see something in something and can you use "inflate" like this? How would you say this sentence naturally please?

3 He doesn't see problem in anything. He takes everything lightly whereas his friend spots problems in everything and inflates everything. If there isn't a problem, he'll find one.

THank you

Avangi · Accepted Answer

alc24Can you use "in" after late?

1 I was late in setting the buffet which is why I left late.

Do you use "in" or "on"

2 I pay a lot of money in/on electricity bills.

Can you see something in something and can you use "inflate" like this? How would you say this sentence naturally please?

3 He doesn't see problem in anything. He takes everything lightly whereas his friend spots problems in everything and inflates everything. If there isn't a problem, he'll find one.

1. Late in setting is correct. I occasionally hear people using "on," but I would not.

2. I'd say both are correct.
People often use "bill" casually to mean "account," especially when large amounts are involved.
I owed the electric company $200, so yesterday I paid $100 on my bill.

But I would say, I pay a lot of money in electric charges. .

3. "Problem" doesn't sound right as an uncountable. I'd say "a problem," or "Problems."

Your second sentence is correct, but I believe it would be more natural to say, ". . . . his friend sees problems everywhere and blows everything out of proportion. Etc."

To spot something implies that it's really there.

But you can see something where nothing exists. (It's a slightly different sense of "see," similar to "imagine.")

The use of "in"

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