why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

[eddy143]

why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

could some one clearify my thoughs here please? thanks.

 

[susiedqq]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

Because they can - and both will be understood!

Seriously, don't worry about things like this.

People will understand when you say either, Please sit' in the chair' or 'on the chair.'

However, I am more concerned about how your question was written: "could some one clearify my thoughs here please? thanks."

It should be: Would someone clarify the difference, please?

 

[AlexAD]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

I'm not agree.
I had always been wondering why we say 'on the bus' instead of 'in the bus' and strongly believed that no one could explain the reason why. But... eventually I had encountered a post where our deeply respected teacher bhaisahab pointed out the fact that initally busses was of a decker or a double decker type. That just amazed me! So I'm still looking forward to seeing an answer like that ;-)

I would be very gratefull to you teachers if you highlight my mistakes in this post.

 

[Barb_D]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

A chair with a hard seat and no arms: I would definitely sit ON that chair.

A chair with thick upholstery and arms: I could sit IN that chair.

Try to picture the difference and see if that makes sense to you.

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

I don't agree.
I always wondered why we say 'on the bus' instead of 'in the bus' and strongly believed that no one could explain the reason why. But eventually I [STRIKE]had[/STRIKE] encountered a post where our deeply respected teacher bhaisahab pointed out the fact that initally buses were of a single decker or a double decker type. That just amazed me! So I'm still looking forward to seeing an answer like that. ;-)

I would be very grateful to you teachers if you would highlight my mistakes in this post.

I've done that.

Rover

 

[AlexAD]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

A chair with a hard seat and no arms: I would definitely sit ON that chair.

A chair with thick upholstery and arms: I could sit IN that chair.

Try to picture the difference and see if that makes sense to you.

Yes, I've just pretended Sherlock Holmes sitting in the chair with the pipe.
In, that's definitely in ....
Thank you!

 

[TheParser]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

could some one clearify my thoughs here please? thanks.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Eddy,


(1) I know how you feel: you want a rule to follow.

(2) But I have bad news: native speakers do not agree on the

use of in/on.

(a) For example, probably most people today say "in" an elevator,

but when I was younger, probably most Americans said "on"

an elevator. As time passes, the "rules" change.

(b) Another example. The United States is a big country. Sometimes the

preposition depends on where you live. Here in California, we stand

"in" line while people in New York stand "on" line!!!

(3) Many books say that you can use either "in" or "on" with the

word "chair." Some people (and I agree with them) feel that "in" a

chair gives a more relaxed feeling while "on" a chair is more tense.

For example, I saw a picture of a table and several chairs. The

caption (words under the picture) said something like: Five presidents

sat on these chairs to discuss world problems. Maybe the use of

"in" would have too "relaxed" for such an important meeting.

(4) Of course, everyone agrees on these:

On a sofa, couch, bench, stool.

In an armchair. (It wraps around you)

(5) My advice to you: use "in" with the word "chair." For example:

I walked into Ms. Smith's English class. All the students were

sitting in their chairs and listening carefully.

For some people, "sitting ON their chairs" would be too tense,

stiff, or formal. It gives an image of 30 children sitting up very

straight. That is not how people usually sit.

 

[AlexAD]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

TheParser is as ever thorough in his answer :up:
But I've just taken aback at your advice to use in instead on.
Not because I don't agree, it's just because of I always use and hear of on the chair. Though this is may be a good advice when staying in the US..

 

[galaxy]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

the messages given to the questions by members sometimes could be rather long and complex. thus it might take a few minutes to read and grasb well. Truly, I can not read that long message completely. I wish members would watch out the length of the posts.

 

[AlexAD]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

the messages given to the questions by members sometimes could be rather long and complex. thus it might take a few minutes to read and grasb well. Truly, I can not read that long message completely. I wish members would watch out the length of the posts.

I'm sorry I've got what you mean.
I do agree with you that headline should be somewhat "in or on the chair".
I'd pin this rule (along with short explantions why it's necessary) at the top of the page on the Ask a Teacher Forum Guidelines annoucement.

 

[The Dude]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

I'm with Barb_D on this.

 

[The Dude]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

the messages given to the questions by members sometimes could be rather long and complex. thus it might take a few minutes to read and grasb well. Truly, I can not read that long message completely. I wish members would watch out the length of the posts.

Speaking just for myself, I'll give a short reply if a short reply is enough. If not, I'll make it as long as necessary to explain the point clearly. That's because, as a teacher, I hope my students want to learn, not just have the answers.

So far, my shortest reply has been one smiley. The longest was undoubtedly far too long...

 

[JMurray]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

I would definitely "sit in" an upholstered armchair that, as TheParser says, wraps around you. However, I often hear and say things like: "Just go and sit on the sofa" or "We had a good time on the sofa", which indicates that the upholstery is not decisive.
I sit on a bench or a stool, but I'm sure I hear "sit in" and "sit on" about as often as each other in reference to a chair with a back but no arms, like a kitchen or dining chair. In my experience, in a situation where the hostess is directing the guests towards the appropriate dining chair she is more likely to say, "You can sit in this chair, next to Aunty Gladys".

not a teacher

 

[allenman]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

TheParser is as ever thorough in his answer :up:
But I've just taken aback at your advice to use in instead on.
Not because I don't agree, it's just because of I always use and hear of on the chair. Though this is may be a good advice when staying in the US..

Hmmm....as a native I totally disagree.
A person sits IN a chair....an object usually rests ON a chair (e.g. the book is over there on the chair).

As several responders have noted, you *can* say "on" when referring to a person but the use is situational.
I might climb on a chair.
I sat on that chair over there.
The cat is sitting on my favorite chair.
Bob sits in his chair all day and dreams.
Sitting in a chair all day is a sure sign of laziness.
Standing on a chair can be dangerous.

Hope those examples help.

Not a teacher, just a native

 

[eddy143]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

thanks a lot.

 

[eddy143]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

well understood. thanks a million.

 

[BobK]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

I'm surprised that nobody seems to have mentioned a metaphorical use of 'in the chair' (at least, I think nobody has. It's associated with the point that has been made, that 'in' is normal for a well-upholstered (or otherwise ornate chair). If you are 'in the chair' at a meeting you are (to use another metaphor) 'holding the reins' - you are in control.

Etymological note: most Romance languages have a word for 'cathedral' that refers to the bishop's throne - Latin cathedra. Portuguese is the only one I know of that uses Sé - a word that refers to the bishop's sitting there - from the Latin sedere. English has a related word, archaic in most cases - but still alive in some contexts, such as Diocese of Winchester - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (which Wikipedia helpfully translates to 'the Diocese of Winchester - look at the URL though'). This underlines the fact that being seated is a position of authority: the bishop is 'in the chair' in a cathedral (although use of that idiom in that context is a bit of a stretch! ;-))

b

 

[5jj]

Re: why do some people use "in" the chair and others use "on" the chair?

the messages given to the questions by members sometimes could be rather long and complex. thus it might take a few minutes to read and grasb well. Truly, I can not read that long message completely. I wish members would watch out the length of the posts.

When somebody has taken the trouble to write a detailed answer to your question, your response comes across as ungrateful and impolite. If it's too long for you, you can just ignore it, but it may be extremely helpful for others.