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Prepositions after verbs

Pull out, in, on, from or into

Pull combines with several particles and prepositions. Some form phrasal verbs, while others introduce places, sources, or directions.

Quick answer

Common uses of pull with particles and prepositions

Pull out and pull in are common phrasal verbs. Pull on means to tug or to put on clothing. Pull from introduces a source. Pull into usually describes movement toward a place such as a station or driveway.

The train pulled into the station.
She pulled on her boots.
The company pulled out of the deal.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
pull out of + place/activity

Leaving or withdrawing

Use pull out of for vehicles leaving a place or for withdrawing from an agreement or activity.

The car pulled out of the garage.
Several investors pulled out of the project.
2
pull in + vehicle/person

Arriving or attracting

Pull in can describe a vehicle arriving or something attracting money, customers, or attention.

The bus pulled in late.
The campaign pulled in thousands of donations.
3
pull on + object

Tugging or putting on clothes

Pull on can mean tugging something or quickly putting on clothing.

He pulled on the rope.
She pulled on a sweater before leaving.
4
pull from + source

Taking or obtaining from a source

Use pull from to show where something is taken or extracted from.

The report pulls from several databases.
They pulled from their emergency savings.
5
pull into + place

Moving toward and entering a place

Pull into is used for vehicles entering a station, driveway, or similar location.

The taxi pulled into the hotel entrance.
We pulled into a rest area.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
pull out of
The team pulled out of the competition.
withdraw from something
pull in
The train pulled in at noon.
arrive at a station or stop
pull on
He pulled on the handle.
apply force by tugging
pull from
The article pulls from earlier research.
use a source
pull into
The bus pulled into the terminal.
enter a place with a vehicle

Common mistakes

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

Using pull into for withdrawal

Pull into refers to entering a place, not leaving or withdrawing.

✕ The company pulled into the agreement. ✓ The company pulled out of the agreement.

Confusing pull on and pull in

Pull on means tug or put on clothing. Pull in often means arrive or attract.

✕ The train pulled on at midnight. ✓ The train pulled in at midnight.

Missing the object after pull from

Pull from normally needs a clear source.

✕ The figures were pulled. ✓ The figures were pulled from company records.

Using pull out without of before a noun

When followed by a noun for withdrawal, use out of.

✕ She pulled out the race. ✓ She pulled out of the race.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The bus ___ the station just before noon.
2. They decided to ___ the agreement after negotiations failed.
3. She ___ her gloves before going outside.

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Frequently asked questions

Is pull out always followed by of?

Use out of before a noun when talking about withdrawal, such as pull out of a deal. Pull out can also stand alone for vehicles leaving.

What does pull in mean with money or customers?

It means attract or earn, as in pull in new clients or pull in revenue.

Can pull from describe information sources?

Yes. It commonly introduces the source of information, data, or ideas.

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