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Snappy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Change trains or change the train

"Passengers going to Kita-Futo, please change the train at Shimin-Hiroba Station."
The above is an announcement we hear in automated monorail cars operated by the Kobe municipal government.
Is it okay to say, "change the train at..."?
I thought that I had to say, "please change trains at...."
  

Top answer

Hi, The standard expression is 'Please change train s' . I guess it's because there are two trains inolved, ie the old one and the new one. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, The standard expression is 'Please change train s' .
  • I guess it's because there are two trains inolved, ie the old one and the new one.
  • Clive
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5 Answers
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Hi,

The standard expression is 'Please change trains'.

I guess it's because there are two trains inolved, ie the old one and the new one.

Clive
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It would be singular if you where talking about only the new train you are going to, or the old one you are leaving, which would be fairly common in these sorts of announcements. By saying "change" they are talking about both trains at once and would need the plural. Passanagers will need to change trains at (where ever). If you are going to (where ever) take train (what ever).
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Snappy"Passengers going to Kita-Futo, please change the train at Shimin-Hiroba Station."
The above is an announcement we hear in automated monorail cars operated by the Kobe municipal government.
Send a letter of complaint to the Kobe municipal government at once! Your version (change trains) is the correct one.

CJ
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Hi,,

Why does a Japanese city make public announcements in English?

Clive
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CliveHi,,
Why does a Japanese city make public announcements in English?

Clive

Because Kobe has a seaport and airport, and a lot of foreigners use this monorail.
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