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Prepositions after verbs

Squat on or squat in?

Both squat on and squat in are possible, but they describe different situations.

Quick answer

Choosing between squat on and squat in

Use squat on for occupying land or property illegally or temporarily. Use squat in for being inside a building or space while squatting.

Families squatted on abandoned farmland.
They squatted in an empty warehouse.

Choose the pattern by meaning

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

1
squat on + land/property

Occupying land or property

Use on when referring to land, territory, or property being occupied.

Activists squatted on the site for months.
2
squat in + building/room

Living inside a place

Use in when emphasising the interior space being occupied.

Several artists squatted in the old factory.

See the difference in context

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

Construction
Example
Meaning
squat on
They squatted on private land.
occupying land or property
squat in
He squatted in an abandoned apartment.
living inside a building or enclosed place

Common mistakes

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

Using on for enclosed spaces

Use in for buildings or rooms.

✕ They squatted on an empty apartment. ✓ They squatted in an empty apartment.

Using in for open land

Use on for land or sites.

✕ Farmers squatted in the disputed land. ✓ Farmers squatted on the disputed land.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The group squatted ___ an abandoned office block.
2. Villagers squatted ___ unused farmland.
3. They squatted ___ the old warehouse for six months.

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Frequently asked questions

Can squat on refer to buildings?

Sometimes, especially when thinking of the property as a site, but in is more natural for the inside of a building.

Is squat in only about illegal occupation?

Usually, yes. The verb squat commonly refers to occupying a place without permission.

Can squat be used without a preposition?

Yes. Squat can also mean crouch low near the ground.

sack, by, sack, for, sack, from "sacrifice for" or "sacrifice to"? sail from, in, for, to or through? "salvage from" or "salvage in"? sanction by, for, in, with or according? satisfy with, by, in, about or after? "saturate with" or "saturate in"? save by, for, from, on or in? "say in", "say about" or "say to"? "scan for", "scan in" or "scan through"? "scar by" or "scar on"? scatter in, across, around, throughout or on?

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