[Grammar] on/in

[for learning]

Heyday!

I´m not very sure when I have to use on or in when speaking about where we live or are. For example:

The cattle ranchers lived on the plains.
My friend lives in New York.
The hermit lived on a mountain.
The indians had to live on reservations.
He is living in a cave.
Sam is living in the state of Oregon.
My uncle has been living on the western coast for six years.
They work on the beach.
He lived in a ranch.
He was planting some trees on his plot.
There were many trees on that land.
He lived on a island.
Those people lived on a peninsula.
He lived in Mallorca.(which is an island).
They lived in a small country.

I think that when we name the land, terrain , etc.. we turn to say in instead of on. That´s the example of the island.

Thank you very much in advance. I hope I have not written too much.

 

[TheParser]

Heyday!

I´m not very sure when I have to use on or in when speaking about where we live or are. For example:

The cattle ranchers lived on the plains.
My friend lives in New York.
The hermit lived on a mountain.
The indians had to live on reservations.
He is living in a cave.
Sam is living in the state of Oregon.
My uncle has been living on the western coast for six years.
They work on the beach.
He lived in a ranch.
He was planting some trees on his plot.
There were many trees on that land.
He lived on a island.
Those people lived on a peninsula.
He lived in Mallorca.(which is an island).
They lived in a small country.

I think that when we name the land, terrain , etc.. we turn to say in instead of on. That´s the example of the island.

Thank you very much in advance. I hope I have not written too much.

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

Good afternoon.

(1) In/on? A very difficult matter.

(2) There are some general rules that you can learn in books and on the Web.

(3) The best way is to read - read - read.

(4) If it's a big island, we say IN; if it's a small island, we use ON.

(a) But what is "big" and what is "small"???

(b) Your idea about using IN with the names of countries seems very helpful.

(i) But when I was young, people used to refer to events ON Taiwan (an island). Today, EVERYbody says IN.

(ii) Maybe twenty years ago, people spoke about events ON the West Bank (maybe because of the word "bank"). Today everybody says IN.

(5) I think that many (most?) people now refer to events IN the "mainland" while others prefer ON the mainland.

(6) All of the examples you gave us seem to be correct. I have a question only about "I live in a ranch." I prefer ON, but I could be wrong.

(7) Thanks for your interesting question. Let's see what other contributors say.

(8) Remember to read - read - read. And keep a list of what words are used with "on" and what words are used with "in." (A little problem: sometimes American and British English do not agree on which preposition to use!!!)

Have a nice day!

 

[billmcd]

Heyday!

I´m not very sure when I have to use on or in when speaking about where we live or are. For example:

The cattle ranchers lived on the plains.
My friend lives in New York.
The hermit lived on a mountain.
The indians had to live on reservations.
He is living in a cave.
Sam is living in the state of Oregon.
My uncle has been living on the western coast for six years.
They work on the beach.
He lived in a ranch.
He was planting some trees on his plot.
There were many trees on that land.
He lived on a island.
Those people lived on a peninsula.
He lived in Mallorca.(which is an island).
They lived in a small country.

I think that when we name the land, terrain , etc.. we turn to say in instead of on. That´s the example of the island.

Thank you very much in advance. I hope I have not written too much.

AmE Popular Usage

OK except:
Could also be “at” the beach.
“on a ranch”
“on Mallorca”

 

[for learning]

Hi!

Thank you very much!
P.S: TheParser, I keep reading, don´t worry;-)