As in, doesn’t matter at all to you.

  • Random Dent@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    3 days ago

    The use of ‘in’ and ‘on’ for various vehicles in English is one that I always find interesting. Like you’re on a motorbike, or a boat, or a bus, but you’re in a car. Aeroplanes I think are kind of interchangeable.

    Also the order of descriptive words for things is one I really find odd. “I’m on a big red old-fashioned London bus” = coherent sentence. “I’m in a red London big old-fashioned bus” = nonsense.

    Apart from that, try explaining to a learner why “Read” (present) and “Read” (past) is spelled the same but pronounced differently.

    Also how something like the word ‘jam’ can mean a fruit preserve, a door that’s stuck, traffic that’s not moving, playing music or cramming something into a hole lol.

    • Tekhne@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      Not an expert by any means, but I’d guess that has to do with the distinction between being on top of something, and having boarded something. You are on top of a (small) boat or motorcycle, but within a car. These examples refer to position. You can be both in or on a bus, plane, or yacht, because you have boarded the bus, plane, or yacht, and thus are “on” it, but are located physically within the vehicle and so are also “in” it (in the case of a yacht, that may depend on whether you’re inside it or on top of it). These examples refer to both position and state of existence.

      This is totally conjecture so I’d be very curious to hear from an actual expert.