on the subway VS in the subway

MaximuS.111

MaximuS.111

Senior Member
ukraine
russian
Greetings!
I recently watched a movie and there was a story narrated in it, which goes like that:
"... I remember once when I was your... and I was coming back from some place... a movie or something... and I was on the subway... and there was a girl sitting in front of me..."
I know that the preposition 'on' is used with transport, so that's what we can see in a dialogue. But there are other prepositions that can be used like: in or by.
For example:
Where are you now? - I'm in the subway
I get to work by subway.
Could someone please give thorough explanation as to when use what preposition with transport.

Thanks in advance! :)
 
    • AmE "on the subway": "on the subway train" (because we say "on the train").
    AmE "in the subway": I don't know if this is possible; we need the view of an AE speaker.
    BrE "in the subway": In some sort of pedestrian underpass, possibly one that goes under a road.
    "By" indicates means of transport: "by bus", "by car", "by train", etc.
     
    Last edited:
    I think on the subway means on the train, whereas you would not usually say in the subway, in the subway station but on the subway, on the train. I go to work by subway, this is correct.
     
    sound shift, Liliana thanks for dropping by! :)
    Now I think we can leave out 'by', because everything's pretty straightforward with it.
    Where are you? - I'm on the subway/on the bus/on the car/on the plain headed to my office.
    Am I right to preposition 'on' to all of those nouns?
    Thanks!
     
    sound shift, now you what my concern is :). It's 'in the car' and that's what I thought it would be :). Can you come up with any other examples where on is replaced by in when talking about transport?
    LilianaB
    Onboard a ship, in a boat, on a ferry.
    Click to expand...
    so the same story with 'in a boat', right? I'm trying to figure out how 'in a boat' and 'in a car' are different from the others...
     
    Hmmmm ...... (Thinks) ..... "In the cable-car". "On the cable-car" is dangerous and impossible for all except James Bond and people like that, because it means "on the outside" :eek:. I agree with what Liliana has just posted, except that I write "on board a ship" rather than "onboard a ship".
     
    Here in New York, we do use "in the subway" to mean within that underground system (in a station, or in a passageway between stations). If we're aboard a train, we say "on the subway".
     
    Yes, I know, Parla, we say in the subway meaning the subway station, but I was not sure whether this was really correct or people just make a shortcut from in the subway station. Could it be used in writing as well? The lawyer was in the subway when he was attacked by a man with a 15 inch knife.
     
    Yes, I know, Parla, we say in the subway meaning the subway station, but I was not sure whether this was really correct or people just make a shortcut from in the subway station. Could it be used in writing as well? The lawyer was in the subway when he was attacked by a man with a 15 inch knife.
    Click to expand...
    Yes, although in a news report such as your example, probably more detail would be given, e.g., "on the platform in the ____ station waiting for the __ train". The headline would still be Lawyer Stabbed in Subway.

    But in general, well, imagine this phone dialog:
    A: I'm calling to let you know I've been delayed; I'll be a few minutes late.
    B: What's all that background noise? Where are you?
    A: I'm in the subway.

    Actually, logically, "station" is unnecessary in any case, since "subway" literally means an underground passage; the entire system is a subway.
     
    Given the above posts can we infer that when a person refers to a means of transport, he uses the preposition 'on', like I'm on the subway meaning I'm using subway to get home.
    But when he wants to indicate the exact place where he is he might use the preposition 'in' like I'm in the subway meaning I'm in the subway station.
    Is this logic feasible? :)
     
    I am on the subway means I am on the subway train not in the subway station or any other place in the subway, simply on the train. Inside the train.
     
    LilianaB, thank you! So what preposition would you choose to tell somebody that you are somewhere (without indicating where exactly on the subway train or in the subway station) underground?
     
    Can you tell me what situation you have in mind. Do you want to meet somebody there? Do you want to tell them that it is noisy, for example where you are, and then you want to explain that you are in the subway( while talking on the phone) Do you want to let somebody know that you are on your way home? If you want to let somebody know that you are in the subway and you want to meet them somewhere, you have to tell them exactly where you are. If you want to let them know that you are on your way home you have to tell them I am on the subway, but if you are just waiting for a train, you can tell them I am on the subway platform waiting for a train, or I am at the subway station waiting for a train.
     
    LilianaB, there's no any situation in my mind, I was just trying to figure out the rule about the matter :). As it turns out, the preposition may vary depending on a particular situation.
    If you want to let them know that you are on your way home you have to tell them I am on the subway, but if you are just waiting for a train, you can tell them I am on the subway platform waiting for a train, or I am at the subway station waiting for a train.
    Click to expand...
    Thanks for that! Best of luck! :)
     
    If you want to say that you are inside the cab of a lorry, can you say 'I am on the lorry, guys!'
     

    Attachments

    • 21056.jpg
      21056.jpg
      119.1 KB · Views: 22
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Back
    Top