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Verb + preposition

haul with different prepositions

Haul often combines with particles and prepositions to describe pulling, transporting, or bringing someone somewhere.

Quick answer

Common uses of haul

Haul in is common for bringing in money, fish, or suspects. Haul into means drag or bring into a place. Haul over can mean pull across or criticize. Before and by are not standard fixed patterns after haul.

Police hauled in the suspect
They hauled the boat into the garage
The editor hauled him over the coals

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
haul in + object

Bring in or collect something

Often used for profits, fish, or arrested people.

The company hauled in huge profits last year
2
haul into + place

Pull or drag something somewhere

Into marks movement toward the inside.

Workers hauled the equipment into the truck
3
haul over + surface/topic

Pull across or criticize strongly

Over has both physical and figurative uses.

The manager hauled the team over the mistakes
4
haul by + vehicle

Describe means of transport

By usually describes transport, not a fixed pattern.

The logs were hauled by tractor

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
haul in
Officers hauled in three suspects.
bring someone or something in
haul into
They hauled the sofa into the apartment.
drag or move inside
haul over
She was hauled over the coals for the error.
criticize severely
haul before
He was hauled before the court.
bring someone to face authority

Common mistakes

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

Confusing haul in and haul into

In can act as a particle, while into introduces a destination.

✕ They hauled in the warehouse. ✓ They hauled the crates into the warehouse.

Using by as a destination

By usually expresses means or agency.

✕ They hauled the machine by the factory. ✓ They hauled the machine into the factory.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Fishermen hauled ___ a large catch.
2. Workers hauled the piano ___ the hall.
3. The coach hauled the players ___ the poor performance.

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Frequently asked questions

What does haul in mean in police news?

It usually means arrest and bring someone to a police station.

Can haul over be physical?

Yes. It can mean pull something across a surface or obstacle.

Is haul before correct?

Yes. Haul before a court or committee means force someone to appear there.

hack-into-by-at-to, in "haggle with" or "haggle for"? "hail from" or "hail as"? hamper by, due, in, for or throughout? "handle by" or "handle in"? hang in, from, over, around or onto? "happen to" or "happen in"? harass by, in, at, for or with? "harm by" or "harm to"? harvest from, in, for, at or by? hasten to, by, from, after or into? hate on, for, by, about or in?

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