Through vs Into – Difference and Comparison

What is Through?

Through” is a preposition that indicates movement or passage from one side or end of something to the other side or end. For example, “I walked through the door” or “The train passed through the tunnel.” It can also indicate the completion of a process or a journey, as in “I made it through the marathon” or “We traveled through Europe on our vacation.”

In addition to its use as a preposition, “through” can also be an adverb, meaning “from beginning to end” or “continuously.” For example, “I read the book in one sitting” or “We worked through the night to finish the project.”

“Through” can also be used as an adjective to describe something that has been penetrated or pierced, as in “a bullet-ridden car” or “a through-and-through wound.” It can also describe something that is completed or accomplished, as in “a through ticket” (a ticket that covers the entire journey) or “a through train” (a train that goes all the way to its final destination without stopping).

What is Into?

‘Into” is a preposition that indicates movement or direction toward the inside of something. It can be used to describe the physical movement, as in “She walked into the room,” or abstract concepts, as in “He delved into the mysteries of the universe.” In addition to its use as a preposition, “into” can also function as an adjective to describe something that has been converted or transformed.

For example, “The money was turned into capital investments” or “The raw materials were turned into finished products.” Into” can also be used as a particle to form phrasal verbs, which are verb phrases that consist of a verb and a preposition or adverb.

These phrasal verbs have a meaning that is different from the individual words. For example, “to look into” means to investigate or examine something, while “to run into” means to meet or encounter someone unexpectedly. Phrasal verbs with “into” are used to describe a change or transformation, such as “to turn into” (to change into something else) or “to evolve into” (to develop into something new).

Difference Between Through and Into

  1. Through” can be used as a preposition, an adverb, or an adjective, whereas “into” can only be used as a preposition or an adjective
  2. “Through” indicates movement or passage from one side or end of something to the other side or end, whereas “into” indicates movement or direction toward the inside of something.
  3. Through” can indicate the completion of a process or journey. Whereas “into” describes a change or transformation
  4. Through” is used to describe physical movement or abstract concepts, whereas “into” is more used to describe physical movement.
  5. “Through” can be used to form phrasal verbs, whereas “into” can also be used as a particle to form phrasal verbs.

Comparison Between Through and Into

Parameters of ComparisonThrough Into 
Grammatical CategoryPreposition, Adjective, AdverbPreposition and Adjective
DirectionMovement from One Side or End of Something to the Other Side or EndMovement or Direction Towards the Inside of Something
MeaningCompletion of a Process or Journey.Change or Transformation
Type of MovementPhysical Movement or Abstract ConceptsPhysical Movement
Formation of Phrasal VerbsUsed to Form Phrasal VerbsUsed to Form Phrasal Verb

References

  1. https://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/bjl.18.13eva
  2. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110872576/pdf#page=81