To vs Into
What’s the difference between them?
To
Meaning:
To is a preposition used to indicate direction, movement, attachment, or purpose.
Examples:
1. I'm going to the store.
2. She wants to go to the park.
3. He was planning to leave early.
Into
Meaning:
Into: expressing motion or action with the sense of entering, introducing, or inserting.
Examples:
1. She dived into the pool.
2. She stepped into the elevator.
3. She gazed into his eyes.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
To
1. Toward
2. In the direction of
3. For
1. From
2. Away
3. Here
4. Keep
5. Reverse course
Into
1. Within
2. Inside
3. Entering
1. Out of
2. Away from
3. Outward
4. Aside
5. Off-limits
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "To", "Into".
1.'To' is used when there is a general direction of movement.
2. 'Into' is used when something is moving towards a more specific target or goal.
3. A helpful mnemonic phrase to remember this distinction is 'The arrow points into.' This phrase brings to mind a visual image of an arrow pointing towards a target, which is indicative of the more specific target or goal associated with 'into.'
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the word 'To' be used?
To is used as a preposition to indicate direction or movement, or to indicate a goal or destination. Most commonly, 'to' is used when indicating movement from one place to another, such as 'She went to the store' or 'The car drove to the beach.' Additionally, it can be used to indicate a certain result or outcome, such as 'She worked hard to achieve her goals.'
When is the appropriate context for using the word 'Into'?
Into is also used as a preposition and is similar to 'to' in that it indicates direction or movement. However, it is used to indicate movement into a specific place, such as 'He jumped into the lake' or 'She was absorbed into the crowd.' It can also be used to express transformation or a change in state, such as 'He changed into his pajamas' or 'The substance turned into a gas.'
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
The two words are pronounced differently. 'To' is usually pronounced as /tə/, while 'into' is pronounced as /ˈɪntu/.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
One common mistake people make is using 'into' when they should use 'to'. For example, 'She drove into the store' should be 'She drove to the store'. Additionally, people often mistakenly use 'to' when they should use 'into', such as 'She changed to her pajamas' instead of 'She changed into her pajamas'.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. She turned __ the room and saw everyone had left.
2. He jumped __ the river and swam to the other side.
3. I looked __ his eyes and knew he was telling the truth.
4. He transformed the raw ingredients ___ a delicious meal.
5. She changed __ a new dress for the party.
6. Remember to look both ways before you cross ___ the street.
1. She turned into the room and saw everyone had left.
Explanation: The preposition into is used to show the action of entering a place, and so it is appropriate here to show her entering the room.
2. He jumped into the river and swam to the other side.
Explanation: The preposition into is used to show the action of entering a place, and so it is appropriate here to show him entering the river.
3. I looked into his eyes and knew he was telling the truth.
Explanation: The preposition into is used to indicate that one is looking inside of something, and so it is appropriate here to show the speaker looking into the other persons eyes.
4. He transformed the raw ingredients into a delicious meal.
Explanation: The preposition into is used to describe a change or transformation from one state (raw ingredients) to another (a delicious meal).
5. She changed into a new dress for the party.
Explanation: The preposition into is used to show the action of entering a place, and so it is appropriate here to show her changing into a new dress.
6. Remember to look both ways before you cross to the street.
Explanation: The preposition to is used to indicate direction or movement towards a place or object without the implication of entering or being inside it.
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List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.