[General] They're riding the bus.

Status
Not open for further replies.

beachboy

Key Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
Do sentences "The children are riding the bus" and "The children are riding on the bus" have the same meaning?
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
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

Key Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2008
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Portuguese
Home Country
Brazil
Current Location
Brazil
'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

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Canada
Current Location
Canada
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.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top