Prepositions

Question

Hello,Could you correct these phrases,   please?  What are the rules of using prepositions with vehicles?We went there in/on a train.We flew there on/in a plane.We flew there on/in an aircraft.We went there in/on a bus. On is wrong. I think.Thanks

KrisBlueNZ · Accepted Answer

A general convention is:
IN is used with a LAND vehicle that you get INSIDE, i.e. that has tyres (tires) and a roof.
ON is used with a vehicle that you sit ON TOP OF, i.e. that is smaller and doesn't have a roof, and larger, NON-LAND vehicles.
There are exceptions though.

Skateboard: ride ON
Pushbike: ride ON
Motorbike: ride ON, or just RIDE
Horse: ride ON, or just RIDE
Boat: cruise (and others) ON; "on board" or "aboard" are correct; "in board" is not used
Car: ride IN (unless you're sitting on top of it!)
Truck: ride IN, or ride IN the back of
Bus: ride ON is normal but IN is OK too
Train: ride ON is normal but IN is acceptable
Aeroplane (plane, airplane, aircraft): fly/flight ON is normal but IN might be acceptable
Ship: cruise (and others) ON is normal.

There are probably variations in some of these depending on country and region.

Prajwalkr · Answer

Nina_NiaWe went there in/on a train.We flew there on/in a plane.We flew there on/in an aircraft.We went there in/on a bus. On is wrong. I think.

Usually, I would use 'by' to describe such situations.
We went there by a train.
We flew there by a plane.
We flew there by an aircraft.
We went there by a bus.

Prajwal

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

prajwalkrWe went there by a train. We flew there by a plane. We flew there by an aircraft. We went there by a bus.

These should not have A or AN in them. We went there BY TRAIN, BY PLANE, BY BUS.

Nina_Nia · Answer

Only these ones?

Nina_Nia · Answer

If I am not mistaken, the use of prepositions also depends on which situation you are using them in.
Eg., We went there by bus. And we are in a bus.
They flew by plane.
They are in/on a plane. /onboard

Do prepositions really change in this way?

Thanks

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

We went there BY BUS. / We are IN A BUS.
They ~~flew~~ travelled BY PLANE. / They are IN/ON A PLANE.
I came here BY MOTORBIKE. / I am ON A MOTORBIKE.
We are going BY TRAIN. / We are ON THE TRAIN.
Yes. Those are all correct.

Nina_Nia · Answer

Yes, I meant all types of transport. So  all types of transport should not have a/an, in situations like this one; We went there by bus, etc right?

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

Yes, I've edited my previous post to make this clear.

Nina_Nia · Answer

Thanks a lot!

Anonymous · Answer

Hello, Nina:

You have asked a really great question.

1. I think that most Americans would say "on" a train.

2. If it is a BIG plane, one usually uses "on," but if it is a SMALL plane, one usually uses "in." But many native speakers ignore this "rule."

3. This "rule" also refers to vessels. "There were many people ON the Titanic; the lucky passengers were IN lifeboats."

4. Here in the States, we refer to being ON the bus. (There is only one little exception: The band did not have enough money for

a hotel, so the band members parked their bus and slept IN/ON the bus.) I often hear a passenger talking on his cellphone: "I'm

ON the bus now and should be at your place in 15 minutes."

5. This whole preposition business can get really crazy:

I am ON the subway = I am IN one of the subway cars (carriages).
I am IN the subway = I am standing in the subway station waiting for the train to arrive.

Please remember that Americans and British people do not always use the same prepositions.

Prepositions

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