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Prepositions With Vehicles

· 2 min read
Tbrennan
Tbrennan
Project Founder

This post will discuss preposition usage when it comes to traveling by vehicle.

Með (dat)​

The use of með implies no participation in the steering, driving, or operation of the vehicle at all. For this reason, it is commonly used with vehicles such as trains, buses, or boats where a person would be typically expected to be an inactive participant in the travel process.

Example 1: Ég fór til Chicago með lest. - (I traveled to Chicago by train.)
Example 2: Eg fór í bæinn með strætó. - (I traveled to Reykjavík by bus.)
Example 3: Ég sigldi til Grænlands með skipi. - (I sailed to Greenland by ship.)

Á (dat)​

The use of á implies active usage of the vehicle.

Example 1: Ég fór í vinnuna á bílnum. - (I took the car to work.)
Example 2: Ég fer á kafbát. - (I travel by driving a submarine.)
Example 3: Ég get ekki drukkið, ég er á bíl. - (I can't drink, I'm driving.)

It´s important also to know that á has a basic meaning of on top. Which of the two meanings, operating or being on top of something, comes across to the audience is dictated by the general understanding of the situation.

Example 1: Ég fór á lestinni í Bangladesh. - (I rode on top of the train in Bangladesh.)
Example 2: Ég fór á erni til Mordor. - (I rode on top of an eagle to Mordor.)

In the previous two examples, it is fairly clear from context that the traveler had no control over the mode of transportation. For that reason, a reader should typically assume that á means on top of in those sentences.

Í (dat)​

Unlike the two other counterparts, the use of í implies nothing at all. It simply describes location. For that reason, the use of í does not imply whether the passenger is operating the vehicle. While the passenger could be doing so, more context would be needed.

Example 1: Ég er í bílnum. - (I am in the car.)
Example 2: Ég var í lestinni þegar þú hringdir. - (I was on the train when you called.)