to ride - transitive or intransitive?

MUSCOVITEIs there any 'noticeable' difference between these two usages (with or without the preposition 'on')?

In terms of meaning? Not that I can see.

MUSCOVITEWhich usage is more common in AmEng?

I would go as far as to say that the first one is more common in English everywhere.

The British National Corpus has many more citations for RIDE a horse than for RIDE on a horse.

Aspara Gusthe first one is more common in English everywhere

(1) .... that is without the preposition 'on'?

(2) ... and this also holds for 'to ride a bike/scooter/etc.

(3)
Have you ever ridden a limo? is normal?
Have you ever ridden on a limo? sounds unusual to native speakers?

MUSCOVITE(1) .... that is without the preposition 'on'?
(2) ... and this also holds for 'to ride a bike/scooter/etc.

That's right.

MUSCOVITEHave you ever ridden a limo? is normal?

No

Have you ever ridden in a limo?
Have you ever driven a limo?

MUSCOVITEHave you ev

Aspara GusNo Have you ever ridden in a limo?

Interesting.... My Longman claims that 'to ride a bus' is ok (in AmEng).
So 'to ride a bus' is passable whereas 'to ride a limo' is not.... You never know where you are with English

MUSCOVITESo 'to ride a bus' is passable whereas 'to ride a limo' is not.

I suppose ride a limo just sounds odd to me because it's not a very common means of transportation (not in my life, anyway). On second thought, it's fine.

The difference between the original two sentences, it seems, is that "riding on a white horse" is simply more passive than "riding a large grey mare."

In AmE, we'd certainly use the first more often (though the second is not incorrect).

As for the bus/limo question, after pondering it I have come to the following two conclusions:
1. English is crazy and the rules rarely ma

Very interesting comments! Thanks a lot!

CliveHi,If I try to learn Russian, will I find that everything in the language is clear and logical?Clive

Well, it's a good point.