in + Accusative (Moving Into)

In and into

Level 2

One word, two cases, two meanings.

How It Works

MeaningLatinEnglish
movement intoin villam curritruns into the house
rest inin villa estis in the house
movement ontoin mensam ponitputs it on the table
rest onin mensa estis on the table

In the Creed, Credo in unum Deum uses the accusative, because belief reaches toward God. In the Pater Noster, in caelis uses the ablative, because the Father is there.

Many verbs of movement take in with the accusative: venire, currere, ire.

Sub works like in: sub mensam with the accusative means going under the table, and sub mensa with the ablative means being under it.

Examples (5)

  1. Marcus in villam currit.

    Marcus runs into the house.

    Villam is accusative: he moves into it.

  2. Marcus in villa est.

    Marcus is in the house.

    Villa is ablative: he stays there.

  3. Pueri in hortum veniunt.

    The boys come into the garden.

    Hortum is accusative after in.

  4. Pueri in horto sunt.

    The boys are in the garden.

    Horto is ablative after in.

  5. Credo in unum Deum.

    I believe in one God.

    In plus the accusative: belief reaches toward God.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative for a place where someone stays.

    Pueri in hortum sunt.
    Pueri in horto sunt.

    A person who is in a place stays there, so in takes the ablative: in horto.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

in + Accusative (Moving Into)Level 2In and into

Learn This First

In takes two cases with two meanings, so the accusative prepositions and in with the ablative come first.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

in