Prepositions that collocate with means of transportation

Where prepositions that collocate with transportation verbs are concerned, there are no hard and fast rules, though some of the prepositions and verbs appear more naturally and frequently together, it is the intended meaning that determines the appropriate preposition in a given instance.

Transportation verbs include ‘leave,’ ‘go,’ ‘travel,’ ‘reach,’ ‘walk,’ ‘fly,’ ‘move,’ ‘slide,’ ‘ride,’etc.

Some of the best prepositions that go with these verbs are: ‘in,’ ‘on,’ ‘with,’ ‘by.’

You can travel ‘by’ almost every means of transportation when you consider movement associated with being transported from one location to another when you are talking on general terms. For example: you travel by plane, train, bus, helicopter, car, truck etc.

But you cannot travel ‘with’ them when you have the process of transportation in mind. You can’t say, ‘I travel home with plane.’ ‘I go to work with bus.’ No. It has to be ‘by plane’ or ‘by bus.’

In specific situations of transportation, you can use either ‘in’ or ‘on.’ While some circumstances of application can sometimes be confusing, this question can help you determine which one to use: can I get up or walk in or on this vehicle?

If you can get up and walk, the most appropriate preposition would be ‘in.’ You can’t get up and walk inside a car. You are therefore always in a car.

Another way to determine the preposition to use is if the means of transportation is a private one or public. If it’s private, use ‘in.’ e.g. I go to work in my car’ not ‘with/by my car.’

If it’s public, use ‘on.’ e.g., ‘Late night workers slept off on the staff bus.’

Let’s examine more specific instances

On a car or in a car?

In the context of personal or small vehicles, the preposition ‘in’ is the best to use. e.g., 1. I left my phone in the car. 2. You should keep your luggage in the truck. 3. She cruises in her Jeep on Mondays. 4. Fola is sitting in the canoe.

You can however stand or sit or sleep on a car if you are literally on the roof, the hood, or the trunk of the car. e.g., 1. The bird perches on the roof of the car. 2. The armed robber stands on the car bonnet. 3. Alice sits on the hood of the car.

Two things are established here: 1. ‘in’ reveals that you are inside the car/vehicle. 2. ‘on’ shows that you are out of the car/vehicle.

In a taxi or on a taxi?

You cannot be on a taxi. You should always be in a taxi (moving or stationary). You are on a bus because you are talking about the transportation process. If the bus is stationary, you are in a bus. If you intend to show location to someone looking for you, especially if they are right there with you, tell them you are in the bus.

You can go somewhere by bus or you travel on a bus. At the bus station or anywhere, you can get on a bus when talk about boarding a bus. You get off a bus when you alight from a bus.

In a plane or on a plane?

You can be on the plane when you are referring to the plane as a means of transportation. But you can also be in the plane when you are referring to your location revealing that you are inside the plane and not out of it.

Train

On is generally used with train. But this does not mean you can’t use ‘in’ and ‘by’ depending on the specific meaning intended. ?

motorcycle/bicycle

You cannot be or ride in a motorcycle/bicycle. Motorcycle and bicycle do not have enclosed places that can be described as interior aspects. You can therefore only stand or sit on them. You can even do away with the prepositions and say,

John likes riding a bicycle.

Sola mounts the motorcycle.?

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