Can you please help me point out the difference between "I was travelling by train and I was travelling on the train"?
Thank you very much.
I was travelling by train.
Either is correct and mean about the same.
. . . traveling by train emphasizes a means of going somewhere
. . . traveling on the train emphasizes the person's physical presence inside the train
Certainly! The difference between "I was travelling by train" and "I was travelling on the train" lies in how you express the way you were traveling.
In the sentence "I was travelling by train," the preposition "by" is used to express the means or mode of transportation. The word "train" indicates that the mode of transportation is specifically a train. This sentence conveys that you were using a train as your method of travel, without specifying the location or position within the train.
On the other hand, in the sentence "I was travelling on the train," the preposition "on" is used to indicate the position or location within the train. This sentence implies that you were physically aboard the train and moving along with it. It focuses more on the idea of being inside the train rather than just using it as a means of transportation.
To distinguish between these two phrases, you can ask yourself:
- If you want to specify the mode of transportation, such as a train, bus, or plane, you would use "by." For example, "I was travelling by bus" or "I was travelling by plane."
- If you want to emphasize your position or location within the mode of transportation, such as being inside a train or sitting on the top of a bus, you would use "on." For example, "I was travelling on the train" or "I was travelling on the bus."
So, in summary, "I was travelling by train" emphasizes the means of transportation, while "I was travelling on the train" emphasizes the position or location within the train.