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Prepositions after verbs

Crack in, crack on, or crack with?

'Crack on' means continue energetically, especially in British English. 'Crack with' can describe splitting something using a tool. 'Crack in' usually refers to the location of a break, not a fixed verb pattern.

Quick answer

How is 'crack' used with prepositions?

Use 'crack on' to mean continue working quickly. Use 'crack with' for breaking something using a tool or force. 'Crack in' usually describes where a break appears.

We need to crack on with the project.
He cracked the shell with a spoon.
There is a crack in the wall.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
crack on

Continuing work energetically

In British English, 'crack on' means continue quickly or energetically.

Let's crack on before it gets dark.
They cracked on despite the delay.
2
crack with + tool

Breaking something using an object

Use 'with' to show the instrument used to break something.

She cracked the ice with a hammer.
He cracked the nut with a knife handle.
3
crack in + surface

Showing the location of a break

'Crack in' usually refers to a noun phrase describing where a split appears.

We noticed a crack in the ceiling.
There was a crack in the glass.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
crack on
They cracked on with the repairs.
continue working energetically
crack with
He cracked the code with special software.
use a method or tool
crack in
There is a crack in the pipe.
location of a split, usually with the noun 'crack'
crack open
She cracked open the window.
open something slightly

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using 'crack in' as a verb pattern for continuing work

'Crack on' is the idiomatic expression for continuing energetically.

✕ We should crack in now. ✓ We should crack on now.

Confusing noun and verb uses

'Crack in the wall' uses 'crack' as a noun.

✕ The wall cracked in. ✓ There was a crack in the wall.

Omitting the object with 'with'

The thing used to break something should follow 'with'.

✕ He cracked the shell with. ✓ He cracked the shell with a stone.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We need to crack ___ with the report.
2. She cracked the tile ___ a hammer.
3. There is a crack ___ the window.

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Frequently asked questions

Is 'crack on' informal?

Yes. It is mainly informal British English.

Can 'crack with' be used figuratively?

Yes. You can say 'crack the problem with a new approach'.

Why is 'crack in' different?

It usually belongs to the noun 'crack', as in 'a crack in the wall', rather than a fixed verb-preposition pattern.

calculate, by, calculate, in, calculate, from "call for" or "call on"? "campaign for" or "campaign against"? cancel by, due, at, in or for? capitulate to, in, like, by or after? captivate by, for, with, from or in? "capture by" or "capture in"? "care about" or "care for"? carry with, by, in, to or into? carve into, out, in, on or with? cast in, into, for, by or on? "catch in", "catch by" or "catch on"?

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