Can I Take a Bus

• #2

I take to accept a bus to piece of work today.(skilful)
I take to catch a motorcoach to work today.(good)
I accept to get a bus to work today(non too proficient)

• #7

Take a bus is more American, while take hold of a bus is more English.

Equally an American who has been catching buses for decades, I tin assure you lot that this argument is without any foundation whatsoever.

If I were to make a distinction, to "catch" a bus means to be at the location where the charabanc is at the time the bus is boarding passengers, while to "take" a bus ways to utilize that motorcoach at a fashion of transportation. Thus, ane might say "I always accept the bus to work" (and not "catch"), only ane would also say "I ran downwardly the street and just barely defenseless the coach this forenoon"; to apply "have" in the second example would make no sense.

Terminal edited: Oct 31, 2009

• #x

"Become a double-decker" (or "go the coach") also works well in BrE.

Wow-- I larn something new well-nigh Be every day.

The reason you tin can get a cab but non a bus is that buses run on unvarying routes, according to prepare schedules. Yous can take a bus if y'all're on your way to the double-decker stop, prepare to hop on the first one bachelor-- "catch a bus" is interchangeable, just it sometimes evokes hurrying or running late (equally GreenWhiteBlue suggests).

Yous can get a bus if y'all charter 1-- so lablady'due south point is well taken.

BTW, the dictionary instance found by the original affiche (welcome to the forums, tanp0p0) makes sense to me, and "can I go a bus from hither to..." ways "is there a road?" "...become the bus" wouldn't brand sense, since there might not be a route to the desired destination.

• #xvi

I've just read post 9 in the thread you linked - which indicates that at to the lowest degree some AmE speakers use catch = take.
I'm thoroughly dislocated now

I think the AE/Exist divergence exists merely with "go a bus." Over hither take hold of is very widely used, and something of a catchall verb.

"Did you lot take hold of Bruno Bettleheim on Leno last night?"
"Is he still on the air?"

"I think I'll catch a quick nap. Wake me before Bruno Bettleheim comes on shift, wouldya?"
"Aye, he'd rat yous out in a heartbeat."

"I'm not sure I take hold of your migrate, Bettleheim."
"That's Herr Doktor Professor Bettelheim to you lot, doormat."

"I just can't take hold of a suspension."
"Try keeping the wind at your back."

• #17

Well, when I was growing up in Manchester England, I always "caught" the motorcoach to town. I never "took" it. It must be a Manchester thing.

Remember the American song "Have THE 'A' TRAIN". Not Catch the 'A' train.

Last edited: Oct 31, 2009

• #19

You will hear catch the bus in Manchester, New Hampshire as well.

Thinking about AE usage a little more, I doubtable, but cannot evidence, that we are more apt to take a/the bus for long journeys, and take hold of a/the bus for local commutation.

I'm taking a bus from Boston to Las Vegas. [We too

have trains for longer trips.]

I've got to grab the double-decker home now.

That's an interesting thought.

Peradventure you catch a passenger vehicle in situations where there are lots of them and you simply get onto the next ane that comes forth.
But you take (or other verb) a omnibus when you have checked the timetable and accommodate to be at the bus stop at the relevant time - because the next bus volition not exist forth for hours.

Or maybe not.

Like Loob, I am dislocated.
Perhaps nosotros should walk.

• #21

Thinking nigh AE usage a little more than, I doubtable, but cannot prove, that nosotros are more apt to take a/the passenger vehicle for long journeys, and catch a/the motorcoach for local commutation.

Perhaps you catch a double-decker in situations where in that location are lots of them and you only become onto the next one that comes along.
Only you lot take (or other verb) a bus when you accept checked the timetable and arrange to exist at the charabanc stop at the relevant time - considering the next passenger vehicle will not be along for hours.

Two well-spotted nuances. They both utilize to the way I employ these terms, anyhow. I also concur in the confusion, and the option to walk instead.

rowleyweneary.blogspot.com

Source: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/take-catch-get-a-bus.1582733/

Share this post