English practice · level A2

in or on?

Two small words, two simple pictures. Read the examples, then do the three tasks.

in = inside something in the box · in my bag · in the office

on = touching a surface on the table · on the wall · on the floor

We use in

four common uses

1 · Inside a place

The milk is in the fridge.
My keys are in my bag.
She works in an office.

2 · Cities and countries

I live in Bucharest.
They work in Romania.

3 · Months, years, seasons

My birthday is in May.
He started in 2019.
We travel in summer.

4 · Parts of the day

in the morning
in the afternoon
in the evening

We use on

five common uses

1 · On a surface

Your book is on the table.
There is a photo on the wall.
The bag is on the floor.

2 · Days and dates

We meet on Monday.
The party is on 12 June.
I don't work on my birthday.

3 · Public transport

on the bus / on the train
on a plane / on a bike
But: in a car / in a taxi

4 · Screens and lines

I saw it on TV.
She is on the phone.
I found it on the internet.

5 · Floors and sides

The office is on the second floor.
The door is on the left.

Careful with these

common mistakes

in a car but on the bus

in the morning but on Monday morning

in the photo but on the wall

in July but on 3 July

Transport: on the bus

big vehicles vs small vehicles

We use on with big vehicles. You can stand up and walk in them.

We use in with small vehicles. You sit down inside them.

on — big vehicles

I am on the bus now.
She reads on the train.
We eat on the plane.
They go to work on a bike.

in — small vehicles

My bag is in the car.
We go home in a taxi.

Also remember:

get on / get off the bus