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Why is the preposition in used for ‘the mountains’ but on for ‘the beach’?

  1. They wish to live IN the mountains or ON the beach.

  2. Go IN the air ON the Plane.
    Go IN the Car ON the Road.

Why is it ‘in the air’ and ‘in a car’, but on when we talk about a plane and a road?

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user168878
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  • You live in the mountains because you are surrounded by them; you would live on a singular mountain, since you would not be surrounded by it - the same goes for the beach. I would say that you can be on or in a plane, but on doesn't make much logical sense: it may simply be one of those quirks of idiom. – Anonym Apr 06 '16 at 05:21
  • I got it. On the plane => I can stand In the car => Can only sit – user168878 Apr 06 '16 at 05:24
  • Also see the tags [tag:in-on] and [tag:at-on]. – choster Apr 06 '16 at 05:35
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    This Q may better be asked on [ell.se] – Kris Apr 06 '16 at 05:42
  • related: Do you live on a farm? and I grew up IN the east coast vs ON the east coast – Mari-Lou A Apr 06 '16 at 07:22
  • I think that most people would say "on a plane", and this does seem inconsistent with your logic (which i agree with). It seems to be (guessing here) to do with public transport. People would say they were "in a car" but "on a bus", "on a train", or "on a boat". Similarly we say that we "got in/into a car" but "got onto/on a bus/train/plane". It's hard to see any logic, i suppose it's just an evolved custom. It just occurred to me that it might be to do with how we get into/onto the vehicle: if we can walk onto it it's "on" and if we have to crouch or sit to get into it it's "in"? – Max Williams Apr 06 '16 at 07:49
  • Possible duplicate of When should I use "in" or "on"? and others such as '“on the train” or “in the train”?'. – Edwin Ashworth Apr 06 '16 at 08:00

1 Answers1

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  1. It is advisable to use IN when you are indicating a position for spaces with limitations while it is relatively specific and does not denote anything enclosed.

    • I'm in the office.

  2. Alternatively, ON is used to denote a position for surfaces or a position just above or outside an area.

    • I'm in the office seated on a chair.

  3. IN is used to denote a location of something inside space while ON generally denotes something above a surface or within proximity.

  4. ON is used when you do not enclose something such as time

    • My retirement is effective on December 31st
Vijit Vengsarkar
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