A question for native English speakers?

Question

I am studing English. I have a quention.
Do you say "I'm on the train" or I'm in the train" ?
Which one does it sound more natural? It would be great if you could mentioned the reason why you chose.
Thank you.

Answer 1

You say "I'm on the train". There is on especial reason for this, it is just the way the language has evolved. We are in a car but on a bus or a train.

Answer 2

In India hundreds of years ago and to a point up to today, train travel was very primative and expensive.
You will see that during any train journey the roof of the train is full to capacity of passengers, taking advantage of the cheapper tickets or free ride.
This was and can be described as riding on the train.
In England the first locomotive travelled from Stockton to Darlington and had no carriages, the passengers were ontop of a trailer, thus riding on the train.

Riding on the train is best used. History prvails.

Answer 3

Only an American would say "riding the train".
The English would say "I am on the train" or "I am going by train".

However, if you want to say that you have begun something, for example that you have begun working on a project in the office, you can say "The project is in train", meaning that you have started it but have not finished it yet. This usage of the phrase "in train" has nothing whatsoever to do with railways.

Answer 4

You would say "I'm on the train." Honestly, I have no idea why that's right, though. Perhaps a way to fix this would be to say "I'm riding the train." This is strange because you would say "I'm in the car." You would also say "I'm on the bus" or "I'm on an airplane." The only explanation I can think of is that you use "on" when you're using public transportation but "in" while in your own vehicle. Sorry this explanation is so poor =(

Answer 5

Most likely on the train, but if you are trying to tell some one where you are, you could be specific, and say "i'm in the train"

Answer 6

Everyone I know would say I am on the train, I understand your logic.

I think it may go back to the early days when passengers were carried on on open wagon.

A strange one is in or on a ship? Most people say on a ship but I have notice that a seaman will say in a ship

Answer 7

All the previous answers rely on the verb "get" which is a catch all instead of the appropiate verb that would best describe a particular action. We "embark on " a train or ship, but we "sit in" a car. The preposition used relates to the verb that is missing or replaced by "got" e.g. I got a cold ; I got in a house ; I got to go; I got on; I got with my friends ; I got up today. The use of "got" should always be avoided as much as possible lest people think you inarticulate and uneducated

Answer 8

We say " I am on the train" in general format.
We would say "I am in train car number 2 or compartment number 2" when we wish to specify the exact location.

"On the train" implies the listener knows you travel by train and expects you to be on it or waiting for it. In the compartment on the train tells a person who does not know, exactly where you are.

Answer 9

"I am on the train." The term is due to the fact that you had to climb several steep steps to get into trains when they were originally built, then walk along to get to a compartment or a seat. The term also applies to a plane or a bus, for the same reason, and to a ship as you have to go up a gangway to get on a deck.
The reason why "in" is used for cars and taxis is that you can directly sit into them.

Answer 10

When you say 'I'm on the train' you mean you are travelling on the train - on a journey.
When you say 'I'm in the train' you mean you are enclosed by the train - sitting or standing inside it.
Either one is correct, but has a slightly different use, depending on what you want to convey.