plane

[Unregistered]

Hi there,
Please help:

I felt sick (on the plane OR in the plane).

thanks
pete

 

[BobK]

Normally, 'on' the plane. If it was a very small plane - the sort where you have to climb over the wing and into the cockpit - it would be 'in'. Generally, if you walk on to a vehicle (a bus or ship or an airliner) use 'on'. You climb into a taxi, say, or a canoe.

b

 

[Soup]

Additionally,

I felt sick while on(board) the plane.
I felt sick while in(side) the plane.

Both are English and both are used, but the first one is more commonly heard which makes it a collocation, which isn't to suggest it's more correct than the second one. Both are grammatical.

 

[peter123]

Hi there,
I think modern English accept 'in the plane', 'in the bus' or 'in the ship' which means inside the vehicle. 'on the plane', 'on the bus' and 'on the ship' are not a must in all situations. Am I right?

Thanks
pete

 

[BobK]

Yes. My post was about "into" and "onto". As Soup said, both 'in the plane' and 'on the plane' are grammatical.

b