in + state / condition (Murphy Unit 127)

Pattern

in + the/a + abstract state/condition = a fixed phrase. You are immersed in the state, not standing on it.

Fixed phrase	Meaning
in the dark	in darkness, without light
in the shade	in shadow, out of direct sun
in the sun	in sunlight
in the rain	while it’s raining
in the snow	while it’s snowing
in the wind	exposed to wind
in a bad/good mood	in a particular emotional state
in pain / trouble / danger	in a particular condition
in love	in a state of loving
in tears	crying
in silence	silently
in bed	lying/sleeping in bed
in hospital (BrE) / the hospital (AmE)	admitted
in the morning / evening	during that time of day
in time	with time to spare
in the end	finally
in fact	actually
in my opinion	according to me
in theory	in abstract, in principle

Why “in” not “on” or “at”

Preposition	Use	Example
in	inside a state / condition / environment	in the dark, in pain, in the rain
on	on a surface / a line / a floor	on the table, on the second floor, on the corner
at	a point / specific address / event	at the door, at 221B Baker Street, at the meeting

“Dark” is an environment/state, not a surface or a point. You’re immersed in the darkness. So in.

Cure-Dolly: “in” = “within the state/condition”. The Indonesian equivalent uses dalam or di depending on context, but English always uses in for these abstract states.

Test application

Can you turn the light on, please? I don’t want to sit ___ the dark.

Answer: in. “Sit in the dark” is a fixed phrase — being immersed in the dark environment.

Why not the others?

• on the dark ✗ — “on” is for surfaces, not abstract states
• at the dark ✗ — “at” is for points/addresses
• in the dark ✓ — fixed phrase, abstract state

The “in” for time vs “in” for state

in + time: in the morning, in 2020, in two hours (within a time period) in + state: in the dark, in pain, in love (within a state/condition)

Both are abstract “within” uses. Different categories, same preposition.

Indonesian trap

Indonesian uses di gelap / dalam gelap / dalam keadaan gelap depending on context. English collapses all of these to “in the dark”. So translating word-for-word:

• di gelap → “at the dark” (wrong)
• dalam gelap → “in the dark” ✓
• dalam keadaan gelap → “in a dark state” (longer way to say “in the dark”)

The fixed-phrase approach is more reliable than trying to translate the preposition.

Source

Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use (4th ed.), Unit 127 — in, at, on (other uses). Ebot lesson 2026-08-29: “I don’t want to sit ___ the dark” → in (fixed phrase, abstract state).