In and On

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

[Francois]

I believe you are on a bus as well.

FRC

[Tdol]

On a bus.

We use in for cars and taxis, and things like motorbikes where we are physicallyon them.

[Casiopea]

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

[Casiopea]

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

[blacknomi]

You are cool, Cas.

Another question.

The fruit is on the tree.
==> The fruit grows from some part of the branch that is part of the tree. So the fruit is on the part of the tree. It makes sense to me.

But the monkey is in the tree. ==> If I apply 'fruit rule' to the mokey, it doesn't make any sense at all. How can be monkey part of the tree? I have some interesting (maybe stupid) questions here.



My Imagination
1. The monkey is playing on the top of the tree.
==> The monkey is indeed sitting on the top, the highest point of the tree. Is that right?

2. The monkey is playing in the top of the tree.
==> If I use 'in' here, that would make me think that the tree has a roof! And the monkey is playing under the lower part below the top.


3. The monkey is jumping on the tree.
==> Again, I have a picture in mind. the moneky is jumping on the top.


4. The monkey is jumping in the tree.
==> They are playing among branches.


I look forward to your answer! :)

[blacknomi]

You are cool, Cas.

Another question.

The fruit is on the tree.
==> The fruit grows from some part of the branch that is part of the tree. So the fruit is on the part of the tree. It makes sense to me.

But the monkey is in the tree. ==> If I apply 'fruit rule' to the mokey, it doesn't make any sense at all. How can be monkey part of the tree? I have some interesting (maybe stupid) questions here.



My Imagination
1. The monkey is playing on the top of the tree.
==> The monkey is indeed sitting on the top, the highest point of the tree. Is that right?

2. The monkey is playing in the top of the tree.
==> If I use 'in' here, that would make me think that the tree has a roof! And the monkey is playing under the lower part below the top.


3. The monkey is jumping on the tree.
==> Again, I have a picture in mind. the moneky is jumping on the top.


4. The monkey is jumping in the tree.
==> They are playing among branches.


I look forward to your answer! :)

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

You are cool, Cas.

Another question.

The fruit is on the tree.
==> The fruit grows from some part of the branch that is part of the tree. So the fruit is on the part of the tree. It makes sense to me.

But the monkey is in the tree. ==> If I apply 'fruit rule' to the mokey, it doesn't make any sense at all. How can be monkey part of the tree? I have some interesting (maybe stupid) questions here.



My Imagination
1. The monkey is playing on the top of the tree.
==> The monkey is indeed sitting on the top, the highest point of the tree. Is that right?

2. The monkey is playing in the top of the tree.
==> If I use 'in' here, that would make me think that the tree has a roof! And the monkey is playing under the lower part below the top.


3. The monkey is jumping on the tree.
==> Again, I have a picture in mind. the moneky is jumping on the top.


4. The monkey is jumping in the tree.
==> They are playing among branches.


I look forward to your answer! :)

Your analysis of the fruit is correct. The fruit is part of the tree, is growing on the tree. The monkey exists in the confines of the space bounded by the tree and its branches.

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

You are cool, Cas.

Another question.

The fruit is on the tree.
==> The fruit grows from some part of the branch that is part of the tree. So the fruit is on the part of the tree. It makes sense to me.

But the monkey is in the tree. ==> If I apply 'fruit rule' to the mokey, it doesn't make any sense at all. How can be monkey part of the tree? I have some interesting (maybe stupid) questions here.



My Imagination
1. The monkey is playing on the top of the tree.
==> The monkey is indeed sitting on the top, the highest point of the tree. Is that right?

2. The monkey is playing in the top of the tree.
==> If I use 'in' here, that would make me think that the tree has a roof! And the monkey is playing under the lower part below the top.


3. The monkey is jumping on the tree.
==> Again, I have a picture in mind. the moneky is jumping on the top.


4. The monkey is jumping in the tree.
==> They are playing among branches.


I look forward to your answer! :)

Your analysis of the fruit is correct. The fruit is part of the tree, is growing on the tree. The monkey exists in the confines of the space bounded by the tree and its branches.

[Casiopea]

As for the 'fruit' being on the tree, it's exactly what our Man in New York, Mike, has said. :D

As for 'the money' being in/on the tree, I agree with 1.; I agree with 2. The monkey is playing inside the foliage (the leaves). The leaves form a 3D enclosed space, as Mike has mentioned. As for 3, the monkey is jumping on top of the tree branches or on top of the highest tree branch. I like 4. :D

All the best,