[Idiom] To be in good form OR to be in A good form?

[englishhobby]

Is the article necessary in this collocation?

 

[bhaisahab]

Is the article necessary in this collocation?

No, it's wrong.

 

[emsr2d2]

If by "form", you mean "school class" (used in BrE) then you could say "I'm in a good form" meaning that you like the class you're in, maybe the other children are well behaved or something.

If you mean that you are in a good mood or doing something well, then "in" is the wrong preposition. It's "I'm on good form".

 

[bhaisahab]

There are over thirty examples of "be + in good form" in the BNC.

 

[emsr2d2]

There are over thirty examples of "be + in good form" in the BNC.

Duly corrected. Sorry, for some reason that usage just sounded totally wrong initially when I read the post. However, when sportspeople talk about being in good condition for a forthcoming event (for example) they might say "I'm in really good form at the moment. I think I could win this tournament!"

"I'm on good form" has a different connotation, as in my previous post.

 

[englishhobby]

Thank you, it was the "sport" context which I meant. It was also good to learn the collocation "to be on form" which I never heard of. ))

 

[Raymott]

Thank you, it was the "sport" context which I meant. It was also good to learn the collocation "to be on form" which I never heard of. ))

You probably haven't gained much. I've never heard it either (and never missed it). Though I would have assumed it was some American version (or from elsewhere) of "to be in form" if I did hear it.