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ENGLISH VERB

step in

to step in for someone

  • Regular verb
  • Gerund: stepping in
  • Past participle: stepped in

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Simple present · now, habits and facts

  1. I I step in for someone
  2. you you step in for someone
  3. he, she, it he steps in for someone
  4. we we step in for someone
  5. they they step in for someone

Past

Simple past · finished actions

  1. I I stepped in for someone
  2. you you stepped in for someone
  3. he, she, it he stepped in for someone
  4. we we step in for someone
  5. they they stepped in for someone

Future

Future · “will”

  1. I I will step in for someone
  2. you you will step in for someone
  3. he, she, it he will step in for someone
  4. we we will step in for someone
  5. they they will step in for someone

Present continuous

Present continuous · happening right now

  1. I I am stepping in for someone
  2. you you are stepping in for someone
  3. he, she, it he is stepping in for someone
  4. we we are stepping in for someone
  5. they they are stepping in for someone

Present perfect

Present perfect · “have done”

  1. I I have already stepped in for someone
  2. you you have already stepped in for someone
  3. he, she, it he has already stepped in for someone
  4. we we have already stepped in for someone
  5. they they have already stepped in for someone

Conditional

Conditional · “would”

  1. I I would step in for someone
  2. you you would step in for someone
  3. he, she, it he would step in for someone
  4. we we would step in for someone
  5. they they would step in for someone

Imperative

Imperative · requests and orders

  1. Step in for someone!

How to use step in

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    When the chef is sick, his assistant steps in.

    When the chef gets sick, the assistant steps in for him.

  2. Past

    Maria stepped in when the singer lost her voice.

    Maria stepped in when the singer lost her voice.

  3. Future

    If you can't come, I will step in.

    If you can't come, I'll step in for you.

  4. Present continuous

    The vice president is stepping in for a month.

    The vice president is stepping in for a month.

  5. Present perfect

    Her parents have stepped in to help with the kids.

    Her parents stepped in to help with the children.

  6. Conditional

    I would step in, but I don't know the material.

    I would step in, but I don't know the material.

  7. Imperative

    Step in if the discussion gets too heated.

    Step in if the discussion gets too heated.

Good to know

  • "Step in" is to step in for someone or to intervene in a situation: "the teacher stepped in to stop the fight".

Where you hear step in

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

English for Brazilians · Intermediate Level 3

  • When someone is sick, a friend steps in. When someone gets sick, a friend steps in.
  • Lucy had the idea. Emma stepped in. Lucy had the idea. Emma stepped in for her.
  • Okay, I'll step in. Okay, I'll step in.
21
The Plan Changed at the Last Minute

Intermediate Level 3 · step in · stepped in

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The thank-you message

Intermediate Level 3 · stepped in

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular verb.