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Could you please tell me which preposition, on or with, it is more natural and correct to use in the context below?

The load is not to heavy, so we could transport it on/with a sprinter van.

Dmytro O'Hope
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  • Either preposition is fine. Or you could have *by, in,* or *using*, and probably several other alternatives. – FumbleFingers Dec 10 '21 at 15:53
  • Generally, things are transported in vans and not "on" them. Of course, then, they are also being transported by van and not by car. I would not use with. I would move furniture with a van, not a car. – Lambie Dec 10 '21 at 16:06

1 Answers1

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With is fine, but in is also valid. With is used to refer to methods or tools, which would include the van. In is used for riding inside a car, van, truck, etc, and for carrying something inside such a vehicle. With a person you would say they travelled in a van. With would be more natural if you needed to make multiple journeys or if the amount is uncertain - The firm makes deliveries with a sprinter van - while in is more likely to refer to a single load.

You can also say transport it by sprinter van which refers to the mode of transport. Note that there is no article a here, because you're talking about the type of vehicle.

On is normally used with public transport - on a bus, on a train - or something you ride on top of, such as on a bicycle.

There is an existing question but it refers to people, not cargo: "In" and "on": How can I decide which one to use for vehicles?

Stuart F
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  • "On" would be possible if the thing was too large to fit "in" the van and had to be lashed to the roof. But that's the only case where you could use "on." – randomhead Dec 10 '21 at 15:31
  • "with" really does not work with transport here. – Lambie Dec 10 '21 at 16:08