[General] They're riding the bus.

[beachboy]

Do sentences "The children are riding the bus" and "The children are riding on the bus" have the same meaning?

 

[GoesStation]

Do sentences "The children are riding the bus" and "The children are riding on the bus" have the same meaning?

They are both acceptable and mean the same thing in American English.

 

[beachboy]

'the bus', 'in the bus', 'on the bus' ---- it doesn't make much difference, does it? -----unless you want to clarify that they are not riding on the roof of the bus.

In most cases we'd say: "The children are taking the bus" whether or not they are inside at present or will be at some time in the future.

So, "the children are taking the bus" can mean that they are either using the bus as passengers or just getting on the bus. Is that right?

I've heard Paul McCartney saying "like riding on the bus" circa 1964, but I don't remember the context. I just remember the funny accent.

 

[probus]

The first sentence, without 'on', is unnatural in BrE.

"Ride the bus" is definitely natural in AmE. For example:

1) I was riding the bus when suddenly ...

2) I always used to ride the bus to school.

3) Riding the bus is less hassle than trying to find a parking place.

That said, "take the bus" is more common, and would do perfectly well in all of my examples.

 

[bubbha]

Another One Rides The Bus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL5l3k7vBsk