in class

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   During a lesson or at a lesson, in the room where students and a teacher meet.

   Grammar: No article: sit in class, not in the class, when meaning a lesson in general.

   Patterns

   • be in class
   • talk in class

   Please turn off your phone while you are in class.

   He fell asleep in class after staying up late.

   She's in class until noon, so call her later.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Done during lessons rather than at home or online.

   Grammar: Usually hyphenated before a noun: an in-class quiz.

   Patterns

   • an in-class test

   We took an in-class quiz on Friday.

   Most in-class work is done in pairs.

   The teacher added an in-class reading period.

Common combinations

talk in class

Please don't talk in class.

in-class assignment

The in-class assignment is due today.

pay attention in class

Pay attention in class and ask questions.

in class today

What did you learn in class today?

in-class discussion

The in-class discussion lasted an hour.

Synonyms and how they differ

in the classroom

In the classroom names the place, while in class refers to the lesson itself.

during lessons

During lessons is more formal and can apply outside classrooms.

at school

At school covers the whole school day, not only the lessons.

on campus

On campus is about location at a college, not lesson time.

Opposites

Word family

class noun

a group of students taught together

classroom noun

a room for lessons

classmate noun

a student in the same class

Commonly confused: in class or in the class?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “in class”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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