Meaning trap
get on
board transport
to enter or go onto a form of transport such as a bus, train, plane, or bike.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to enter or go onto a form of transport such as a bus, train, plane, or bike.
Another meaning of 'get on' is 'make progress'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- We need to get on the bus before it leaves.daily life
- When I travel to work, I usually get on the subway at 8 a.m. because it's less crowded.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: get on + [transport]
WrongI got in the bus quickly.
RightI got on the bus quickly.
Use 'get on' for buses, trains and planes; 'get in' is for cars and taxis.
Patternget on + [transport]
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Get on' is the everyday verb for boarding; 'board the train using the rear doors' is a station announcement.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
get on + transportthe busthe traina planeyour bike
Don't confuse it
Contrast with 'get off' (to leave transport).
Related
- get on (make progress) — Another meaning of 'get on' is 'make progress'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.