get on — board transport
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcore
to enter or go onto a form of transport such as a bus, train, plane, or bike.
Say it like a native
Textbook Passengers should board the train using the rear doors.
Native Get on the train at the back.
'Get on' is the everyday verb for boarding; 'board the train using the rear doors' is a station announcement.
Pattern: get on + [transport]
In use
- 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
Common mistake
✗ I got on to the bus quickly.
✓ I got on the bus quickly.
'Get on' takes the vehicle directly — no 'to' (for buses/trains/planes).
Common collocations
get on + transport— the bus, the train, a plane, your 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.