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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Definite article

Should I say "I read books only when I'm on bus" or "I read books only when I'm on the bus"

I'm assuming that I use 'the' only when the other person has the knowledge of which bus I'm taking.
  

Top answer

Anonymous Should I say "I read books only when I'm on bus" No, you cannot use that. Anonymous "I read books only when I'm on the bus" That's OK. Anonymous I'm assuming that I use 'the' only when the other person has the knowledge of which bus I'm taking.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Should I say "I read books only when I'm on bus" No, you cannot use that.
  • Anonymous "I read books only when I'm on the bus" That's OK.
  • Anonymous I'm assuming that I use 'the' only when the other person has the knowledge of which bus I'm taking.
  • No; 'the' there refers to the method of transport (like 'I take the train to work every day'), so it needn't refer to any specific bus; however, you could equally well use 'a bus' in that sentence.
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3 Answers
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AnonymousShould I say "I read books only when I'm on bus"
No, you cannot use that.
Anonymous "I read books only when I'm on the bus"
That's OK.
AnonymousI'm assuming that I use 'the' only when the other person has the knowledge of which bus I'm taking.
No; 'the' there refers to the method
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How about "We go to school by bus."
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AnonymousHow about "We go to school by bus."
That is fine. It is the idiomatic structure " 'by' + unmodified mode of transportation".
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