English uses different prepositions for travel. By car and by bus name the means of transport: they answer "how do you travel?". On the bus and in a taxi picture the vehicle and the position inside it.
The rule of thumb: big vehicles you stand or walk on take on (a bus, a train, a plane, a ship). Small vehicles you sit inside take in (a car, a taxi). Bikes and motorbikes take on because you sit on top of them.
This page explains by, in, on and the fixed phrase on foot, and drills all the everyday combinations in 20 sentences with a rule under every answer.
The rule
By + vehicle: the means of travel
- By car, by bus, by train, by plane, by boat, by bike, by taxi, by underground.
- No article is used: "by car", never "by a car" in this pattern.
- By air, by sea and by land name the route rather than the vehicle.
- On foot is the fixed exception: we walk on foot, not by foot.
On + big vehicles and open vehicles
- On a bus, on a train, on a plane, on a ship, on the ferry, on the metro.
- On a bike, on a motorbike, on a horse: you sit on top of them.
- Use on when the vehicle is part of the scene: "I met her on the train."
- The article appears with on: on a bus, on the bus, on the last train.
In + cars and small closed vehicles
- In a car, in a taxi, in a van, in a lorry, in a helicopter.
- Use in when you picture the inside of the vehicle: "We sat in the taxi and waited."
- By taxi and in a taxi are both correct, but they answer different questions: means against scene.
- For bicycles, never use in: say on a bike.
Get in and get on
- Get in a car or a taxi; get out of a car or a taxi.
- Get on a bus, a train, a plane or a bike; get off a bus, a train, a plane or a bike.
- The same logic applies to sit: sit in a car, sit on a bus.
- Take a taxi and ride a bike are common alternatives that avoid the preposition choice.
Arrive, travel and go combinations
- Arrive in a city or a country: "arrive in Paris".
- Arrive at a building, a station or an event: "arrive at the airport".
- Travel by train, go by bus, come on foot: the pattern depends on the verb.
- A journey on foot is a walk. "I went there on foot" means I walked.
Examples
- I go to work by bike.By + vehicle names the means.
- We travelled to Rome by train.No article after by.
- She was sitting on the bus when I called.On the bus pictures the scene.
- They waited in a taxi outside the hotel.Small closed vehicle takes in.
- He goes to school on foot.On foot is the fixed phrase for walking.
- Get on the train at platform four.Get on works for trains and buses.
- Get in the car; it is raining.Get in works for cars and taxis.
- She rides to work on a motorbike.You sit on top of a motorbike.
- We flew to Athens by plane and then went by boat.Two means of travel in one sentence.
- I met him on a flight to Tokyo.On a plane describes the scene.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I went to the shop by foot. Right: I went to the shop on foot.
- The fixed phrase is on foot, not by foot.
- Wrong: She travelled by a bus. Right: She travelled by bus.
- By + vehicle takes no article.
- Wrong: We waited in the bus for ten minutes. Right: We waited on the bus for ten minutes.
- Buses take on because you stand or sit on the vehicle. In the bus is only for the inside space of a parked bus.
- Wrong: He got on the car and drove away. Right: He got in the car and drove away.
- Cars and taxis take get in; buses and trains take get on.
- Wrong: I arrived to Paris by train. Right: I arrived in Paris by train.
- Arrive in a city or country, and arrive at a building or event.
Practice drill
Answer all 20 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
I usually go to work ___ bike.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. by By + vehicle names the means of travel, with no article.
We travelled to Paris ___ train.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. by By train is the fixed means pattern.
She was sitting ___ the bus when I called her.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. on Large vehicles take on because passengers stand or sit on them.
They waited ___ a taxi outside the station.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. in Cars and taxis are small closed vehicles, so they take in.
He goes to school ___ foot every day.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. on On foot is the fixed phrase for walking.
Get ___ the train quickly; it is about to leave.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. on Trains take get on, while cars take get in.
Get ___ the car; we are late.
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Answer: C. in Cars take get in because you sit inside.
She rides to work ___ a motorbike.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. on You sit on top of a motorbike, so the preposition is on.
We flew to Athens ___ plane.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. by By plane names the means of travel without an article.
I met him ___ a flight to Tokyo.
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Answer: B. on On a flight describes the scene inside the journey.
Do not travel ___ a bus without a ticket.
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Answer: C. on Buses take on; by bus would also name the means, but the article a points to on a bus.
The children came home ___ foot through the park.
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Answer: D. on The fixed walking phrase is on foot.
It is cheaper to go ___ underground in London.
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Answer: A. by By underground names the means of travel.
We sat ___ the taxi and waited for the rain to stop.
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Answer: B. in A taxi is a small closed vehicle, so in is correct.
There were no seats left ___ the train.
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Answer: C. on Trains take on because passengers are on the vehicle.
She goes to the office ___ car with her brother.
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Answer: D. by By car names the means of travel with no article.
We arrived ___ Rome late at night.
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Answer: A. in Arrive in a city or country; arrive at a building or event.
They arrived ___ the airport two hours early.
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Answer: B. at Arrive at a building or a point like an airport.
You cannot ride ___ a plane without a passport.
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Answer: C. on Planes take on: you are on the plane as a passenger.
He delivered the parcel ___ bike.
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Answer: D. by By bike names the means of travel; on a bike would picture the vehicle.
Drill complete
You answered every question.
Next topic: Prepositions at the end of questionsTake the level test
Questions learners ask
When do I use by, in and on with transport?
Use by + vehicle without an article to name the means of travel: by car, by train, by plane. Use in + a/the + vehicle for cars, taxis and other small closed vehicles: in a taxi. Use on + a/the + vehicle for buses, trains, planes, ships, bikes and motorbikes. On foot is the fixed phrase for walking.
Why do we say on a bus but in a car?
The preposition pictures the position. On a bus, passengers stand and walk on the floor, and the bus is large enough to move around. In a car, you sit inside a small closed space. English groups vehicles by that picture, not by logic, so the pair "on a bus" and "in a car" is the pattern to learn.
Is "on the plane" or "in the plane" correct?
Both can appear, with different pictures. On the plane is the normal choice for passengers: "I slept on the plane." In the plane focuses on the inside of the aircraft, often for crew or mechanics: "The engine is in the plane." For everyday travel, on the plane is the safe choice.
More grammar topics
Prepositions at the end of questions
Wh- questions often end in a preposition because the question word is the object; formal English moves it to the front.
Future in the past: was going to and would
The past forms of will and going to: plans that may never happen, predictions and interrupted moments.
Would rather vs prefer
Would rather + base verb for one choice now; prefer + noun or -ing for a general taste, and pref ... er ... to ... for comparisons.
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