Mastering ‘Hand in’ for IELTS Success: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding ‘Hand in’: Definition and Usage

The phrasal verb ‘hand in’ is a crucial expression for IELTS candidates to master. It primarily means to submit or deliver something, especially a document or assignment, to a person in authority. This phrase is particularly relevant in academic and professional contexts, making it valuable for both the IELTS Speaking and Writing modules.

Key Meanings and Synonyms

1. To submit or turn in (a document, assignment, or project)
2. To give up or surrender (an object or oneself to authorities)

Synonyms: submit, turn in, deliver, surrender, relinquish

Contextual Usage and Examples

‘Hand in’ is versatile and can be used in various situations:

1. Academic: “Students must hand in their essays by Friday.”
2. Professional: “Please hand in your expense reports to the finance department.”
3. Legal: “The suspect decided to hand himself in to the police.”

Hand in phrasal verb usage examples

Grammar Analysis

‘Hand in’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning the object can be placed between ‘hand’ and ‘in’ or after ‘in’:

• “I need to hand in my assignment.” (Object after the phrasal verb)
• “I need to hand my assignment in.” (Object between the verb and particle)

However, if using a pronoun, it must be placed between ‘hand’ and ‘in’:

• Correct: “I need to hand it in.”
• Incorrect: “I need to hand in it.”

Application in IELTS

Speaking Module

In the IELTS Speaking test, using ‘hand in’ can demonstrate your ability to use phrasal verbs accurately, enhancing your vocabulary score.

Example response for “Describe a time when you had to meet a deadline”:

“I remember a particularly stressful time during my final year at university when I had to hand in a crucial research paper. The deadline was tight, and I worked tirelessly to ensure I could hand it in on time. Ultimately, I managed to hand the paper in just minutes before the cutoff, which was a huge relief.”

Writing Module

For the Writing module, ‘hand in’ can be effectively used in Task 2 essays, especially when discussing education or work-related topics.

Example sentence for an essay on education:

“Many universities now require students to hand in assignments electronically, which has both advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional paper submissions.”

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Turn in (tɜːrn ɪn): To submit or deliver (similar to ‘hand in’)
   Example: “Don’t forget to turn in your homework tomorrow.”

2. Give in (gɪv ɪn): To surrender or yield
   Example: “After hours of negotiation, the company finally gave in to the workers’ demands.”

3. Take in (teɪk ɪn): To absorb or understand information
   Example: “It took me a while to take in all the new information from the lecture.”

4. Drop off (drɒp ɒf): To deliver something or someone
   Example: “Can you drop off these documents at the office on your way home?”

5. Pass on (pæs ɒn): To transmit or transfer something to someone else
   Example: “Please pass on this message to your manager.”

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. The students were reminded to __ their projects by the end of the week.
2. After evading the police for months, the suspect finally decided to __ himself __.
3. Please __ your timesheets to HR before leaving for the day.
4. The company requires all employees to __ expense reports monthly.
5. She forgot to __ her application form, so she missed the deadline.
6. The researcher __ his findings to the scientific journal for publication.
7. Make sure you __ all your borrowed books before the library closes.
8. Candidates must __ their completed examination papers to the invigilator.
9. The team worked overtime to __ the project proposal on schedule.
10. Don’t forget to __ your passport at the embassy when applying for a visa.

Sentence Rewriting

1. Original: The students submitted their essays to the professor.
   Rewrite: The students __ their essays to the professor.

2. Original: She delivered the report to her supervisor yesterday.
   Rewrite: She __ the report to her supervisor yesterday.

3. Original: The criminal surrendered to the authorities after a week on the run.
   Rewrite: The criminal __ to the authorities after a week on the run.

4. Original: Please give your completed forms to the receptionist.
   Rewrite: Please __ your completed forms to the receptionist.

5. Original: The journalist submitted his article just before the deadline.
   Rewrite: The journalist __ his article just before the deadline.

6. Original: All employees must return their security badges when leaving the company.
   Rewrite: All employees must __ their security badges when leaving the company.

7. Original: The students were required to submit their projects electronically.
   Rewrite: The students were required to __ their projects electronically.

8. Original: He gave his resignation letter to his boss this morning.
   Rewrite: He __ his resignation letter to his boss this morning.

9. Original: Remember to submit your tax returns before April 15th.
   Rewrite: Remember to __ your tax returns before April 15th.

10. Original: The team delivered the final presentation to the client last week.
    Rewrite: The team __ the final presentation to the client last week.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. hand in
2. hand himself in
3. hand in
4. hand in
5. hand in
6. handed in
7. hand in
8. hand in
9. hand in
10. hand in

Sentence Rewriting:

1. handed in
2. handed in
3. handed himself in
4. hand in
5. handed in
6. hand in
7. hand in
8. handed in
9. hand in
10. handed in

Explanation: In all these sentences, ‘hand in’ is used to replace verbs like submit, deliver, surrender, or give, maintaining the original meaning while demonstrating the use of this phrasal verb in various contexts.

Memorization Tips

To remember ‘hand in’, visualize physically handing an object to someone. This mental image reinforces the idea of submitting or delivering something.

Another helpful tip is to create a mnemonic: “Hand In Delivers Assignments” (HIDA). This acronym can help you recall the primary usage of ‘hand in’ in academic contexts.

Hand in mnemonic visualization

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Incorrect particle: Some learners mistakenly use ‘hand over’ instead of ‘hand in’. While both are valid phrasal verbs, ‘hand over’ typically means to give something to someone else, not necessarily to submit or turn in.

   Correct: “I need to hand in my assignment.”
   Incorrect: “I need to hand over my assignment.”

2. Wrong preposition: Avoid using ‘hand to’ instead of ‘hand in’.

   Correct: “Please hand in your reports by Friday.”
   Incorrect: “Please hand to your reports by Friday.”

3. Separating the verb incorrectly: Remember, when using a pronoun, it must go between ‘hand’ and ‘in’.

   Correct: “I’ll hand it in tomorrow.”
   Incorrect: “I’ll hand in it tomorrow.”

To avoid these mistakes, practice using ‘hand in’ in various contexts and pay attention to its correct usage in authentic materials like academic texts or news articles.

Conclusion

Mastering the phrasal verb ‘hand in’ is essential for IELTS success, particularly in academic and professional contexts. By understanding its meaning, usage, and grammatical structure, you can effectively incorporate it into your speaking and writing responses. Remember to practice using ‘hand in’ along with related phrasal verbs to enhance your overall language proficiency. With consistent use and attention to common mistakes, you’ll be able to employ this versatile phrasal verb confidently in your IELTS exam and beyond.

For more insights on handling challenging topics in IELTS Writing Task 2, check out our guide on how to handle difficult topics in IELTS Writing Task 2. Additionally, if you’re interested in exploring related phrasal verbs, you might find our article on ‘hand out’ helpful for expanding your vocabulary further.