I get confused about using "on", "in", "at"

Hi everyone, I'm very confused about when I'm supposed to use "on" or "in" or "at"

For example it's correct to say: I'm on the bus
Is it also correct to say: I'm in the bus ??

Instead it's correcto to say: I'm in the taxi.
Is it also correct to say: I'm on the taxi. ??

With at is it the same problem, it's correct to say: I'm at home
is it correct to say: I'm in home ??

How do I say "Llevo un curso de inglés en el IGA"?
should I say it "I'm taking a english course at/on/in IGA"
Which one should I use?

Another sentence "Voy a cruzar la calle en el semáforo"
should it be "I'm going to cross the street at/on/in the traffic light"
Which one should I use?

Thank you very much :), sorry it is a long question

Tags: at, in, on, calle, semáforo

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Permalink Reply by paul2099 on April 30, 2008 at 8:30pm: Another favor, could some explain what's is the sense or meaning of these words (on,in,at) why can't they be used in any occasion? why are they different if they mean the same? thanks a lot ;); ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by Gary Willson on April 30, 2008 at 9:09pm: Wow. Great questions, Paul. I don't think I can give you a rule for each case. I can only offer the correct usage for each example.

I'm on the bus (not correct to say "in" the bus)
I'm in the taxi (not correct to say "on" the taxi)
I'm at home (not correct to say I'm in home)

I'm taking an English course at IGA.

I'm going to cross the street at the traffic light.

I guess it's a memorizing type thing. As far as the bus and the taxi, the only thing I can think of is that you usually have to step up a couple of stairs to get on a bus, so you are "on the bus". But, you don't when you get in a taxi. I know that's weak, but it's the only thing I can think of.

I am having the same problems in my beginning Spanish. Lo, el, su, tu, se, etc.; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by Cherry on April 30, 2008 at 9:11pm: We usually say, "I'm on the bus."

"I'm in the taxi." is correct. When I hear, "I'm on the taxi." I picture in my mind a man sitting on the top of the taxi. :)

"I'm at home." is correct. We would say, "I'm in the house." not "in home"
If someone says, He is in the home.", "Home" in this case usually means something like a resthome for elderdly people.

"Llevo un curso de inglés en el IGA"? ="I'm taking a english course at IGA"

"Voy a cruzar la calle en el semáforo." = "I'm going to cross the street at the traffic light."

I hope this helps.; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by Cherry on April 30, 2008 at 9:35pm: Here are some links that give the usages of these words. It is really hard to explain these in a few sentences.
IN http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=dictionary&q=in
ON http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=dictionary&q=on
AT http://dictionary.reference.com/search?db=dictionary&q=at

These words have a number of translations in Spanish.
IN
prep. en, dentro, dentro de; hacia adentro
adv. adentro
adj. interior; de entrada, que entra (correo); aceptado; de moda; influyente; abundante
s. los que pertenecen al partido gobernante; los que tienen el mando; (Fam.) influencia; los pormenores, los trámites

ON
prep. sobre, encima de; de; al; en
adv. adelante; encima
adj. en funcionamiento, en operación; conectado, enchufado, encendido

AT
prep. en, a; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by paul2099 on April 30, 2008 at 9:49pm: Thanks a lot! Gary,
I kind of have and idea of why this is different, and yeah I think memorizing it's the only way to correctly learn it, don't worry here we are to help you with your spanish; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by paul2099 on April 30, 2008 at 9:52pm: - "I'm on the taxi." I picture in my mind a man sitting on the top of the taxi. :)"
jaja that's the kind of mistake I don't want to make when I'm talking to another person

Thanks a lot! Cherry; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by Cherry on April 30, 2008 at 10:10pm: I didn't think you did. ^__^
De nada, Paul.; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by Karina on April 30, 2008 at 10:46pm: well, well well welcome to the nightmare called .... PREPOSITIONS !!! Yeah!
Last part of speech non-native speakers acquire.

When my students ask me about prepositions and whether or not there's a rule for their correct use I just roll my eyes (in my imagination) and parrot what I've been saying for the last couple of years :D NO .. I'm sorry, no rules. It's a matter of collocation and yeah... memory, and of course lots of practice.

hmmm I remember I read in a book of Sociolinguistics something like "in the home" which was really shocking.. I have always used "AT home". In this context for example:

"Nugala" learned the low variety (of a language) at home and the high variety at school, but some people may use the H variety in the home too.

who can explain that to me?

Thanks !

Karina; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)

Permalink Reply by Cherry on April 30, 2008 at 11:00pm: That one is acceptable too, depending on the context. Like you said, sometimes it is just really hard to explain because it is just part of what we grow up hearing and there aren't always rules that apply.; ▶ Reply to This (Please don't include e-mail or Skype address)