in vs on for vehicles (Murphy Unit 125, in/at/on position 3)
Pattern
Section titled “Pattern”| Vehicle | Preposition | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| car / taxi / van | in | enclosed — you sit inside |
| motorbike / bicycle / horse | on | open — you ride/straddle on top |
| bus / train / plane / ship | on | public transport — you board |
- We took a taxi, and Joe followed on a motorbike.
- I drove in my car.
- She goes to work on her bike.
- We traveled on the train.
The rule of thumb
Section titled “The rule of thumb”- in = you sit INSIDE it (enclosed vehicle you control or ride in): car, taxi, van, truck cab
- on = you’re ON TOP of it / you BOARD it:
- riding vehicles: motorbike, bicycle, horse, skateboard
- public transport: bus, train, plane, ship (you get “on board”)
Test: if you’d say “get in” → in (car). If you’d say “get on” → on (bus/bike). If you’d say “ride” → on (motorbike/horse).
Why “take a taxi” uses neither
Section titled “Why “take a taxi” uses neither”“We took a taxi” = idiom (take = use/ride in). No preposition needed because “take” is the verb:
- We took a taxi. (take + vehicle = use it)
- We went by taxi. (by + vehicle = means of transport — no article!)
- We went in a taxi. (specific taxi, in)
by + vehicle (means): by car, by bus, by plane, by taxi — no article, no in/on. Use “by” when talking about transport means generally.
Test application
Section titled “Test application”We took a taxi, and Joe followed ___ a motorbike.
Answer: on — Joe rode the motorbike (straddling, open vehicle).
Why not the others?
- in ✗ — motorbikes aren’t enclosed (you can’t sit “in” one)
- at ✗ — at is for points/locations, not vehicles
- on ✓ — riding a motorbike
Source
Section titled “Source”Raymond Murphy, English Grammar in Use (4th ed.), Unit 125 — in, at, on (position) 3. Ebot lesson 2026-08-29: “Joe followed ___ a motorbike” → on (riding).