Collins Cobuild

Unit 46
Transport prepositions
Main points
This includes phrases like: ‘by bus’, ‘in a car’, ‘on the plane’, and
‘off the train’.
You can use ‘by’ with most forms of transport.
You use ‘in’, ‘into’, and ‘out of’ with cars.
You  normally  use  ‘on’,  ‘onto’,  and  ‘off’  with  other  forms  of
transport.
1
When you talk about the type of vehicle or transport you use to travel
somewhere, you use ‘by’.
by bus by bicycle by car by coach by plane
by train
She had come by car with her husband.
I went by bus and train to Nottingham.
WARNING: If you want to say you walk somewhere, you say you go
‘on foot’, not ‘by foot’.
Marie decided to continue on foot.

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2
You use ‘in’, ‘into’, and ‘out of’ when you are talking about cars, vans,
lorries, taxis, and ambulances.
I followed them in my car.
The carpets had to be collected in a van.
Mr Ward happened to be getting into his lorry.
She was carried out of the ambulance and up the steps.
3
You use ‘on’, ‘onto’, and ‘off’ when you are talking about other forms
of transport, such as buses, coaches, trains, ships, and planes.
Why don’t you come on the train with me to New York?
He was already on the plane from California.
The last thing he wanted was to spend ten days on a boat with
Hooper.
He jumped back onto the old bus.
Mr Bixby stepped off the train and walked quickly to the exit.
You can use ‘in’, ‘into’, and ‘out of’ with these other forms of transport,
usually when you are focusing on the physical position or movement
of  the  person,  rather  than  stating  what  form  of  transport  they  are
using.
The passengers in the plane were beginning to panic.
He got back into the train quickly, before Batt could stop him.
We jumped out of the bus and ran into the nearest shop.

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