[Grammar] Don't spit on / in the bus.

[worldeng]

Dear Teachers,

Don't spit on / in the bus. Which one is the correct preposition?

Thanks,

Tom

 

[emsr2d2]

[STRIKE]Dear teachers,[/STRIKE] Hello.

Don't spit on/in the bus. Which one is the correct preposition?

Thanks.

Tom

Welcome to the forum. :hi:

One important question before you post any more - are you sure your native language is Breton? Please check your member profile and make sure all the information is accurate.

In the UK, we would say "Don't spit on the bus". I assume you mean "Don't spit while you are on the bus" rather than "Don't spit so that your spit lands on the outside of the bus". It's technically an ambiguous sentence but most people would take it to mean "Don't spit while you are on the bus". Other variants might use "in the bus".

Of course, better advice is "Don't spit at all".

Note my corrections above. There is no need to address us with "Dear teachers". "Dear xxx" is for the opening of a formal letter and the people who help you here aren't all teachers. Don't put a space either side of a slash.

 

[worldeng]

Thank you for your advice. As you mentioned "Other variants might use "in the bus", do you mean "Don't spit in the bus" is also correct?

 

[Rover_KE]

emsr2d2 said it might be correct. We don't know whether it is or not.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity of relating one of my favourite limericks:

There once was a man from Darjeeling
Who boarded a bus bound for Ealing.
A sign on the door
Said 'Don't spit on the floor',
So he stood up and spat on the ceiling.

(The old ones are the best.)

 

[worldeng]

Thank you for your advice. As you mentioned "Other variants might use "in the bus", do you mean "Don't spit in the bus" is also correct?

In this picture, should say "Do not spit on/in the bus."?

 

[jutfrank]

I think on is probably a bit more likely but in works too.

Basically, in the bus focuses on being inside (which would make sense here) whereas on the bus focuses on the idea of being a passenger, which makes a bit more sense here in my opinion.