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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
I am in the train?
Hi,
I am in the train
I am on the bus
The above two sentences were marked as the correct way of telling in a text book that I read long back. Ever since that I started and always wondered when to use 'in' and when to use 'on' . Can you please help me to understand them better?
Like this I always wondered if it is right to say "put it in/on my machine" "put the code in/on the pages"
Any help is highly appreciated!
I am in the train
I am on the bus
The above two sentences were marked as the correct way of telling in a text book that I read long back. Ever since that I started and always wondered when to use 'in' and when to use 'on' . Can you please help me to understand them better?
Like this I always wondered if it is right to say "put it in/on my machine" "put the code in/on the pages"
Any help is highly appreciated!
Top answer
Vehicle use of 'in/on'' verges on the idiomatic, but these are all natural: I'm in the train I'm on the train I'm in the bus. I'm on the bus . It is a matter of how the speaker unconsciously conceives of these large vehicles: as a 3-dimensional enclosed space or as a 2-dimensional platform of movement.
- Vehicle use of 'in/on'' verges on the idiomatic, but these are all natural: I'm in the train I'm on the train I'm in the bus.
- I'm on the bus .
- It is a matter of how the speaker unconsciously conceives of these large vehicles: as a 3-dimensional enclosed space or as a 2-dimensional platform of movement.
- Notice that we say only ' in a taxi' and ' on a motorcycle', where they options for perception are weak.
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4 Answers
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Vehicle use of 'in/on'' verges on the idiomatic, but these are all natural:
I'm in the train
I'm on the train
I'm in the bus.
I'm on the bus.
It is a matter of how the speaker unconsciously conceives of these large vehicles: as a 3-dimensional enclosed space or as a 2-dimensional platform of movement. Notice that we say only 'in a ta
I'm in the train
I'm on the train
I'm in the bus.
I'm on the bus.
It is a matter of how the speaker unconsciously conceives of these large vehicles: as a 3-dimensional enclosed space or as a 2-dimensional platform of movement. Notice that we say only 'in a ta
00
Thank you...but I am still confused 
"where they options for perception are weak" what do you intend to say? I am sorr
"where they options for perception are weak" what do you intend to say? I am sorr
00
Sorry, what I mean is this:
In the case of a train or bus, it is easy to think of it (perceive it optionally) either as a container and use 'in' or as a platform and use 'on', but in the case of a car or motorcycle it is difficult to imagine using 'on' for a car or 'in' for a motorcyle.
Is that better?
In the case of a train or bus, it is easy to think of it (perceive it optionally) either as a container and use 'in' or as a platform and use 'on', but in the case of a car or motorcycle it is difficult to imagine using 'on' for a car or 'in' for a motorcyle.
Is that better?
00
So nice of you making me understand it better, I really appreciate your help very much 
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