In or On?

Question

Hi there,

Being a non native speaker of the English language I tend to get really confused when it comes to some pronouns. Please look at the following sentence and let me know why we can't replace on with in.

"I am on his team"

It may sound like a stupid question but "I am in his team" sounds just fine to me. You can't really be ON a team anyway.... its not like a teams a surface

Well anyway I hope someone can clear my doubt on the usage of those pronouns...

Thanks in advance..

Edit: Hey I just came across a headline which weirdly raised another question in my head.

Teen killed mother in Halo 3 row.

Now why can't that be, Teen killed mother on halo 3 row?

*May the mother r.i.p.*

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

Hi,
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English says "in a team" is used in British English, while "on a team" is used in American English.

Something happens "in" a row, I guess, because it's just idiomatic. I don't think you can say "on a row".

CalifJim · Answer

S.P.I.when it comes to some pronouns

in and onare prepositions, not pronouns!

Prepositions have literal uses. In the literal use of on, you're talking about surface contact. You're right about that.

But in addition to the literal uses, there are tons of idiomatic uses where the literal meaning is totally ignored. It's two different things to ride on a horse (literal) and to bet on a horse(idiomatic)!

on a team is one example of an idiomatic grouping. Others are:

on further consideration, on further investigation, on the way, on the chance that, on a whim, on a lark, on the authority of, on second thought, on television, on a committee, on the board of directors, on his good side, with dressing on the side, on whose side are you?, on flimsy evidence, on seeing her, on his return, on the left, on the right, on your birthday, on vacation, on duty, on the sly, on the QT, "It's on the house", on Cloud Nine, on a pass, on leave, on furlough, on the record, to buy on credit, on approval, live on a meager salary, dine on lobster, work on a car, work on a problem, not on your life, on your honor, a treatise on mathematics, a sale on sweaters, ...

The same remarks apply to in and other prepositions.

CJ

Yankee · Answer

S.P.I.Well anyway I hope someone can clear my doubt on the usage of those pronouns...

Those are prepositions.

Yes, there are a few differences between AmE and BE when it comes to preposition usage.
For example, on the weekend vs at the weekend

But I think "in" would all be pretty standard in the following examples to mean something similar to "during":

- injured in a row
- injured in a brawl
- injured in a battle
- injured in a fight

S.P.I.Teen killed mother in Halo 3 row.

I presume the word "row" refers to a nasty sort of argument/fight here.

S.P.I. · Answer

Right, prepositions, not pronouns

I always seem to get confused b/w the two terms.

Anyway thanks a lot for the replies, clears things up

In or On?

Teen killed mother in Halo 3 row.

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