He goes to college on a train every day.

Question

I'd appreciate it if someone would answer my question. Thanks in advance.

Are the following 2 sentences correct? If so, what's the difference?

A: He's a college student. He goes to college on the train every day.

B: He's a college student. He goes to college on a train every day.

Emma chicola · Accepted Answer

i think the difference is 'the train' is a specific train. and to be frank the first sentenc is a little bit awkward.

Avangi · Answer

"On the train" is idiomatic. "On a train" sounds strange. "On a plane" is idiomatic. "On the plane" sounds strange. Go figure. Likewise "in a car."

My guess is that "the train" acquired a certain sense of permanence because of the tracks - like "the subway." You wouldn't say, "He goes to college on a subway." There's only one subway that goes to his college. "The train" in this sense means "the railroad," not a particular assembly of cars.

- A.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, Avangi.--Do you mean we can use "on the train" when we are conscious of the existence of a certain kind of transportation system?

Avangi · Answer

Right. Perhaps more like, "when we are conscious that there is train service to our intended destination."

I'm sorry my post didn't seem to make much sense. There's certainly more overlapping between customary "train" and "plane" usages than I implied.

If you don't know whether or not "a" train runs between Claremont, NH and Concord, NH, you may well ask, "Is there a train (train service) between Claremont and Concord?"

If you do know about it, and someone asks, "Are you planning to drive to Concord this morning?", you would reply, "No, I'm taking the train."

If the exact same situation occurred re the airlines, you'd be more apt to say, "No, I'm taking a plane." (Actually, "No, I'm flying.") If you know there's only one flight a day, as may be the case with small towns, you'd probably say, "I'm taking the plane." In the old Fantasy Island TV show, when the much-anticipated plane was arriving, the midget "Tatoo" would yell, "The plane! - the plane!" Not, "A plane! - a plane!"

In the 60's, Northeastern Airlines ran an hourly no-reservations shuttle between Boston and New York. Everybody knew about it, and would say, "I'm taking the shuttle." This is the way we think of the subway.

The Hitchcock classic, Strangers On A Train was probably so named because the particular train was not important.

- A.

Anonymous · Answer

both sentences are correct however
i would always use 'the train' not 'a train'
i'm not 100% sure why though sorry
possibly it's because he gets the same train everyday and not just any random train?

Yoong Liat · Answer

Anonymouspossibly it's because he gets the same train everyday and not just any random train?

every day

Anonymous · Answer

--Hi, Avangi. I'm an original poster. I see what you say well. Thank you very much.

He goes to college on a train every day.

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions