get on a train/go into/in a train

A

ana35802

Member
Germany
German
Hello,

I know that it's correct to say "to get on a train".

I would like to know if I can also say "to go into/in a train". Or is this grammatically wrong?

Thank you for your help!

example: I wanted to go into/in the train as the train was already in the station.
 
    • "Go into the train" for me insinuates brutally colliding with it. However, "I went in a train" (especially said by someone possibly excited about the new experience of being inside a carriage) sounds correct, but "to go by train" or "to go on a train" are in standard use.

    EDIT: Sorry I think I misread your question. If the train is already in the station, one would "go into the train". This seems perfectly normal English to me.

    EDIT: and I think "get in the train" would be the most common verb form using "in".
     
    Thank you, ogspog89. So, I can say 'to go into the train'.

    Hello cuchuflete. Thanks for posting the links but they differ from my problem. (Before asking here, I do search the forums. ;-) That's why I knew it's correct to say "to get on a train". I wondered if 'to go' can also be used instead of the verb 'to get' concerning a public transport like a train.
     
    I can't think of a normal circumstance where I would say "go into the train" to mean "board' the train. If the train had wrecked and there were rescue workers attempting to save people I can imagine "the workers waited for daylight to go into the train". It simply doesn't sound like a normal phrase to use for boarding a train. It may be that American English and Australian English differ in this use.
     
    taked4700 said:
    Hi,

    The/A bus driver got in/on the bus and started it.

    Does 'get in' make sense in this context?

    Thanks in advance.
    Click to expand...

    It makes perfect sense to me. :)

    To "go in a train" doesn't sound to me like something a native English speaker would be likely to say. It makes it seem a little bit awkward, but it's easily understandable. I'd say "get onto/into a train," "get" sounds more natural to me than "go."
     
    Thank you, Trix19.

    Let me make sure of something.

    I think that "Passengers got on the train." is idiomatic while "Passengers got in the train." is not.
    "The bus driver got in the bus and started it." is idiomatic but "The bus driver got on the bus and started it." is not idiomatic.

    Is this right?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    taked4700 said:
    Thank you, Trix19.

    Let me make sure of something.

    I think that "Passengers got on the train." is idiomatic while "Passengers got in the train." is not.
    "The bus driver got in the bus and started it." is idiomatic but "The bus driver got on the bus and started it." is not idiomatic.

    Is this right?

    Thanks in advance.
    Click to expand...

    That's an interesting question. I suppose we say "got on the train (or bus)" because we step onto the surface inside it. But not on the train or bus itself. I'd say "Passengers got on the train" is certainly idiomatic and "Passengers got in the train" is not, as you said, but "The bus driver got in the bus and started it" wouldn't be idiomatic. In both cases using "on" would make it idiomatic.
     
    "Get onto the train" does not sound natural to me if you mean a passenger and a passenger train. "Get on the train" does.

    "Get onto the train" might be OK to describe what a hobo does to board a freight train. "Get on the train" would work here as well, however.

    Edit: I have found many examples using "onto" using a book search, so I'm wrong. "... he managed to find himself a seat before the rest of the platform passengers got onto the train."

    At least ngrams agree that "on" is used more often.
     
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