Fill in the blanks with a suitable preposition
He broke _____ the jail.
It would most probably be 'out of' but I need to use a single word. So, I was thinking of using 'into'. Am I correct?

Question

Fill in the blanks with a suitable preposition
He broke _____ the jail.
It would most probably be 'out of' but I need to use a single word. So, I was thinking of using 'into'. Am I correct?

mani_jha · Answer

I need to use 'broke'(that's given, it's not my choice). I've used 'into' in comparison with ' The burglar broke into the house'

anonymous · Answer

I think that into will work

mani_jha · Answer

Yeah, me too but my friends and teacher don't. Let's check with @Redwood_Girl

anonymous · Answer

Mani, you could use "into" or "out of." There is a single blank there, it's true, but I don't believe the exercise would make such a fine distinction between simple and compound prepositions. I imagine you'd be given one blank to fill in either way.

If you search for compound prepositions online, you'll find various lists of these.

Does that answer your question? Let me know if not.

mani_jha · Answer

Yeah, Thanks. I was just in doubt because everyone else was saying that 'into' won't work.

anonymous · Answer

Well, I think they weren't expecting a sentence in which someone breaks *into* jail! But in terms of its being a preposition and in terms of the sentence being grammatically correct, it fits the bill.

mani_jha · Answer

Yeah, they were thinking exactly that. But I argued that he could have broken 'into' the jail to rescue a fellow prisoner!

anonymous · Answer

Absolutely! Context is everything . . .  :)