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Teleostomi Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

in/on

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslprep2.html

Please take a look at the bottom of the link page.


Some speakers of English make a further distinction for public modes of transportation, using in when the carrier is stationary and on when it is in motion.


My wife stayed in/on the bus while I got out at the rest stop.
The passengers sat in/on the plane awaiting takeoff.
Do you think it is a regional difference of usage? Os is it a matter of idiolect?
  

Top answer

Hi, I think that there's a lot of truth in this comment. It seems to me to be idiomatic, and not just regional, but perhaps other people may have a different opinion. Because it's idiomatic, you have to be careful about over-generalizing and making a 'rule'.

— Clive

  • Hi, I think that there's a lot of truth in this comment.
  • It seems to me to be idiomatic, and not just regional, but perhaps other people may have a different opinion.
  • Because it's idiomatic, you have to be careful about over-generalizing and making a 'rule'.
  • eg We usually say 'on a ship', whether it is moving or not.
  • Is a ship a form of public transportation?
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1 Answers
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Hi,

I think that there's a lot of truth in this comment. It seems to me to be idiomatic, and not just regional, but perhaps other people may have a different opinion.

Because it's idiomatic, you have to be careful about over-generalizing and making a 'rule'.

eg We usually say 'on a ship', whether it is moving or not. Is a ship a form of public transportation?

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