This week
on "Ask a Teacher", we answer a question from Sajjad in Iran. He asks:
Question: Hello, could you possibly tell me which one is correct: “I
travel BY train” or “I travel WITH train”? And is there any article
about this? I couldn't find one anywhere. Sajjad, Iran.
could you
possibly tell me: sería posible que me indicaran; which one: cuál de
ellos/as; article: artículo, lección; I couldn't find one anywhere:
no logré encontrar uno por ningún lado;
Answer: Hello
Sajjad, When we talk about
means of transport, the prepositions we use depend on whether we are speaking
generally or specifically.
means of
transport: medio/s de transporte; depend on whether: dependen de si;
generally: en general; specifically: específicamente, concretamente;
GENERAL USES
When you are talking about general ways to travel, use the preposition BY. For
example, you can travel BY train, BY car, BY bus, BY truck, BY plane, BY
motorcycle, BY helicopter or BY boat.
general ways to
travel: formas comunes de viajar; by: en, por (medio de), mediante;
by truck: en camión; by motorcycle: en moto; by helicopter: en
helicóptero;
When you say, “I travel BY train”, it means you usually or always take the train
as your means of transport. A more common verb when speaking of transport is “go.”
For example, you can say, “I go BY train”.
it means you usually
or always: ello significa que usualmente o siempre; take the train as:
tomas el tren como; a more common verb: un verbo más común; when
speaking of: cuando se habla de; I go BY train: Yo voy EN tren;
There is one exception to using the preposition BY. When speaking generally
about walking as your means of transport, use ON. It is more common to say, “I
travel ON foot”, for example, than “I travel BY foot”. But note that we do not
use WITH for any means of transport.
there is one
exception: hay una excepción; to using: al uso de; about walking:
sobre caminatas; use ON: utiliza la preposición ON; I travel ON FOOT:
yo viajo A PIE; but note that: pero observa que; we do not use
WITH: no se utiliza (la preposición) CON; for any means of transport:
para ningún medio de transporte;
SPECIFIC USES
Now let’s discuss specifics.
When you are talking about a specific instance of taking
or using transport, use ON or IN.
For trains, buses, boats and planes, use ON.
You might say, for example, “I’m ON the plane now. I have to turn off my phone”.
For trucks, cars and helicopters, use IN. You can say, “I’m IN a taxi”, for
example.
now let's discuss
specifics: ahora analicemos los usos específicos; a specific instance:
una situación específica; I'm ON the plane now: Ahora me encuentro EN el
avión (abordo); I have to turn off my phone: tengo que apagar mi teléfono;
I'm IN a taxi: estoy EN un taxi;
PAY ATTENTION
A simple way to remember whether to use ON or IN is this: If you can stand up or
walk inside the vehicle, use ON. If you can only sit in the vehicle, use IN. You
cannot stand (in the)
inside of a car, for example. Here is another way to remember: For private
transport, such as cars and trucks, use IN. For public transport, such as trains,
buses and planes, use ON.
a simple way to
remember: una manera sencilla de recordar; whether to use ON or IN:
si utilizar ON o IN; if you can only sit in the vehicle, use IN: si sólo
puedes estar sentado en el vehículo, utiliza IN; you cannot stand (in the)
inside of a car: no puedes estar de pie en el interior de un automóvil;
for private transport, use IN: para transporte privado, utiliza IN; such
as: tal/es como; for public transport, use ON: para transporte
público, utiliza ON.
And that’s "Ask a
Teacher" for this week. I’m Alice Bryant.