turn in

Separable

The object can go before or after the particle — but a pronoun MUST go in the middle: “clean it up”, never “clean up it”.

How to say it

Stress the particle, not the verb: turn IN. Saying “TURN in” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

Link across the gap. The final /n/ of “turn” moves onto the particle and starts its syllable: “turn in” is said “tur-nin”. Pausing between the words is what makes phrasal verbs sound recited rather than spoken.

2 meanings

  1. 1

    To submit work to someone in authority.

    • Turn in your assignments by Friday.

    Similar: hand in, submit

  2. 2

    To go to bed.

    informal
    • He knew he'd have to turn in early to catch up on some sleep.

    Similar: retire

The particle logic

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Hear “turn in” spoken naturally

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More TURN phrasal verbs

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turn in — meaning, examples & how to say it