Hello Everyone I am Niharika and welcome back. Well, today we are gonna look at a grammar
lesson. Yes, can be tricky, can be confusing but it's important to learn. So, in today's
lesson we are specifically gonna look at Transportation prepositions.
Now for many English learners, prepositions can be tricky and confusing because there are
no rules to follow. So in today's lesson we are gonna try and understand using the preposition
by, in and on related to transportation. So that would make your speech a little easy.
So let's get started.
Now the first preposition we are gonna look at is 'By'
Now when do you use by? When we are talking about general ways of transport or general
ways of travel. So for example - How do you travel?
I travel by car. I travel by train. My son travels by van to the school. My son travels
by bus. Well when he goes to Delhi, he goes by plane.
These are the vehicles, Right! Transportation vehicles. But now here if you
see, sea, road and air. Well these are transportation environment or the surface.
So even when you are not talking about a particular vehicle in general you can also talk about
or use the preposition by totalk about the transportation surface. I went by the sea.
We are travelling to Delhi by road. We are gonna go by air.
SO we are using the preposition by when we talk about general ways to travel. So you
got the examples. We travel by the car, by train, by van , by bus , plane, sea, road
and air or even rail You can also use another transportation surface that's rail. So I hope
you are clear with the preposition by Now let's have a look at using the preposition
in related to transportation. People get a little confused with using the preposition
in or on.Now as per the rule, in and on are used when you talk about a specific vehicle.
Like nothing in general but something in specific. That's confusing, so which one do we choose?
In or on ? I have an idea for you. What you can do is, let's think about the vehicles
that we can sit in. We cannot stand in that vehicle, but the vehicles that we can only
sit inside are car, truck , helicopter, taxi, row-boat. Now you cannot stand in these vehicles
right? especially when they are in motion. So the vehicles that you can sit inside you
will end up using the preposition in. Hey Niharika where are you? I am in the car. So
I am talking about being in a car and I am using the preposition in because I am sitting
in the car. I can't stand in the car, Can I ? Well probably a kid can stand but that
doesn't make sense. Just make sure that you use the preposition in when you are talking
about a specific vehicle and in the vehicles that you can sit inside and not stand while
in motion. So you sit in a car, you sit in a truck, you sit in a helicopter, you sit
in a taxi, Well I am in a taxi and you sit in a row-boat.
Now let's have a look at using the preposition on. So what the difference between in and
on ? Now when you use the preposition on, you can only use it of-course for specific
vehicles, when you are talking about specific vehicles. However where in you can stand or
walk while the vehicle is in motion. So, lets have a look - plane, yes I am on a plane,
Hey Niharika where are you? I am on a plane we are just gonna take off. On a plane of-course
you can stand in a plane while you are inside and while the plane is in motion or in the
air. So it's gonna be on plane , on ferry, on ship. Ship is huge and when it's in the
water you can stand, you can sit, you can sleep , you can walk around so it's ship using
the preposition on. on train, oh I am on train. I on train to New York. On bicycle.When you
are riding a bicycle, you are on the bicycle, you are siting but you an also stand while
riding it. On motorbike , its gonna be on motorbike and not in motorbike because you
are not sitting inside somewhere it's gonna be on motorbike and then on foot. the most
common way of transport. Well, walking. When we talk about walking which is the preposition
we end up using? Well it is the preposition on. How did you go to my uncles house? Well
we went on foot. How did you go to the supermarket? Your car
isn't working so how did you manage? Oh we went on foot. You are gonna use the preposition
on for foot. You stand on your feet right. So it's gonna be on foot. And then animals,
its not just vehicles there are people who also go on a horse or on a camel. Like in
Dubai, we do have camel rides and at many places we have horse rides to get from one
place to the other. So what would you say when you are on animal?
you are gonna use the preposition on. I am on a horse, i am on a camel. You can also
use another preposition onto but that is only for animals. i am just gonna climb onto a
horse, I am just gonna climb onto a camel or onto an elephant. But not for the other
vehicles. So it's gonna be the preposition on for talking
about specific vehicles where in you can stand and walk while in motion you use on and you
will use the preposition in when you are again talking about specific vehicles however you
cannot stand in these vehicles. You have to get inside and sit in these vehicles.
So you gonna use the preposition in and you will use the preposition by when you are talking
in general about travel. Got that? So hope this is clear to you
Just take down these examples and the next time you have to use these preposition related
to travel or transportation I am sure you will use it correctly. Also you can take a
test and let me know what your scores are. I will be back with a new lesson till then you take care