She grew up ON a ranch? or IN a ranch?

[dianaub]

Hello.

I have a question. Yesterday I made a quiz for my English students.

In the quiz, I wrote the following sentence:

"She grew up on a ranch."

When I was grading the quiz, I found a comment made by one of my students, which said: "it is IN, instead of ON" (She grew up IN a ranch).

I've been searching, and I can't seem to find an answer for this. I googled it, and in most cases, they use ON a ranch for that kind of sentence, but for some other cases, they use IN. So I don't know the difference between them.

I hope you can answer me, so I can give a good explanation to my student when she asks me why is it ON, not IN.

Thanks!

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello.

I have a question. Yesterday I made a quiz for my English students.

In the quiz, I wrote the following sentence:

"She grew up on a ranch."

When I was grading the quiz, I found a comment made by one of my students, which said: "it is IN, instead of ON" (She grew up IN a ranch).

I've been searching, and I can't seem to find an answer for this. I googled it, and in most cases, they use ON a ranch for that kind of sentence, but for some other cases, they use IN. So I don't know the difference between them.

I hope you can answer me, so I can give a good explanation to my student when she asks me why is it ON, not IN.

Thanks!

In English we say on a ranch or farm. I don't speak Spanish but in French it's "dans" (in) a farm.

 

[dianaub]

Thanks for your reply

I know it's ON a ranch, but do you know WHY? I mean, why is it ON a ranch instead of IN a ranch? Is there a reason?

Thanks!

 

[bhaisahab]

Thanks for your reply

I know it's ON a ranch, but do you know WHY? I mean, why is it ON a ranch instead of IN a ranch? Is there a reason?

Thanks!

I don't think there is any reason other than, that's the way we say it.

 

[emsr2d2]

My only suggestion is that it's not physically possible to live "in" a ranch. It's a vast area of land, incorporating various buildings and fields and animals etc.

You live in a house/flat/palace/mansion/hovel - these are all single buildings that you physically live inside.

But you live on a farm/ranch/housing estate/council estate - these are all areas which have more than one building. You can't physically be inside any of them.

 

[bhaisahab]

But you live on a farm/ranch/housing estate/council estate - these are all areas which have more than one building. You can't physically be inside any of them.

Apparently French and Spanish speakers can.;-)

 

[riquecohen]

Prepositions are difficult and there are no rules. The student will have to learn them through usage. We say "IN the car," and "ON the bus, train, etc."

 

[emsr2d2]

Apparently French and Spanish speakers can.;-)

That's true. Still, I would never claim that prepositions make sense in any language!

 

[dianaub]

Thanks a lot, everyone!!

This was very helpful