English as it is Broken

The 'English as it is Broken' website is a good place to ask about grammar and other English language related questions. (http://www.stomp.com.sg/english/)
Here's one common problem....

Qn: I always have this problem with using "in", "at" and "on". It sounds silly that I can't even master these 3 simple words but please help: When do we use them in the following?
1) I am AT Suntec or I am IN suntec?
2) I am ON the train or I am IN the train?
3) There is a traffic accident ON the 3rd lane or IN the 3rd lane?

Ans: The table below will help you use the prepositions for locations:

At … a point
I am at home.
He is at the bus stop.
I am at Suntec City.
There is a traffic accident at the junction of Bendemeer and Balestier Road.

On … a surface
The boys are playing soccer on the field (not enclosed).
The cows are grazing on the open range (not enclosed).
I am *on the train to Bangkok.
There is a traffic accident on the road.

In … area/volume(within a space/place/enclosure)
I live in Singapore.
I am in a shop at Suntec city.
I went to Penang *in my car.
There is a traffic accident in the third lane (within the 3rd lane).
The cows are grazing in the pasture (enclosed).

Note that *on is generally associated with modes of public transport (bus, ship, plane) while *in is associated with private transport as in:
I went to school in my father’s car.
I am on the bus to school.
He travelled to KL on the train.

However, some speakers of English make a further distinction for public modes of transportation, using in when the carrier is stationary and on when it is in motion.
My friend stayed in/on the bus while I got off at Orchard Road.
The passengers sat in/on the plane awaiting takeoff.

Spot the mistake!

Some 'interesting' signs from the 'English as it is Broken' website.

What to do during the hols?

Some of you are looking rather free so here are some suggestions:

1) Read Gayle Goh's blog at http://i-speak.blogdrive.com/. You've probably heard of this ACJC girl who criticised some of the remarks made by the perm sec of the MFA during a talk held in her school. She made the news perm sec responded to the remarks she made on the blog. (if you don't know who she is, it's time to read the newspapers again!) Her blog entries are quite interesting and witty

2) See the art exhibits at the Singapore Biennale. This is really quite interesting because it's not your usual art museum style exhibits. There are exhibits at different places around Singapore (e.g. Kwan Im Thong, Armenian Church, Sculpture Sq etc.). More info at http://www.singaporebiennale.org/

3) Watch a movie! Go ahead and watch Death Note, Rob-B-hood and this penguin cartoon coming out soon (the title has slipped my mind)...but you may want to try a 'serious' movie once in a while. 'An Inconvenient Truth' by Al Gore (I hope you know who he is!) should be quite interesting. 'World Trade Centre' and the Chinese movie 'Little Red Flowers' sound pretty good too

Enjoy the hols! If none of the above interests you...holiday HW will be coming soon! :)