Thread: In and On
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Old 05-Jul-2004, 10:44
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Default Re: In and On

Quote:
Originally Posted by busy_cat
Hi,

Here are some sentences that confuse me

1. I am in a bus
2. I am on a train
3. I am on a plane.
4. I am in a car

All are moving vehicle, when to use "in" and "on" ?

Is I am in a plane correct ?

Thanks
You can be "on" a bus/train/plane because you can walk upright--walk on board, on top of the vehicles' floor(boards).

You can be "on" a bike because the top of the bike is the seat--sit on top of the seat. You cannot sit in the bike unless, that is, it has a roof.

If you are "on" a car, it means you are standing or sitting on top of the car's roof. The car, you see, doesn't have a space for walking upright--it's floor space is rather limited for walking, so "in" is our only choice.

You can be "in" all four: a car/bus/train/plane because all those vehicles have an inside space.

OTHERS
1. You "get in" a car/bus/train/plane because they all have doorways.
2. You "get on" a bus/train/plane/bike because you climb on board or climb up stairs.
3. You can "get on" a car but it means, on it's roof.
4. You can "get in" a bike only if the bike has a roof.

All the best, :D
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