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Prepositions after verbs

Travel to, with, in, from or on?

Travel combines with different prepositions depending on destination, company, transport, origin, or route.

Quick answer

Choose the preposition by purpose

Use travel to for destinations, with for companions, in for cars or enclosed transport, from for starting points, and on for buses, trains, planes, and routes.

We travelled to Canada last summer.
She travelled with her colleagues.
They travelled on the night train.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
travel to + destination

Showing where someone goes

To introduces the destination of a journey.

He travels to Singapore for work.
We travelled to the coast by bus.
2
travel with + person

Showing company

With names the person or group accompanying the traveller.

I usually travel with my family.
She travelled with a guide through the mountains.
3
travel in + car or enclosed vehicle

Showing transport inside a vehicle

In is common with cars, taxis, and other enclosed vehicles.

They travelled in a rented car.
We travelled in a taxi after the concert.
4
travel from + starting point

Showing where the journey begins

From introduces the origin of travel.

She travelled from Madrid to Lisbon.
Thousands travel from rural areas to the city.
5
travel on + public transport or route

Showing transport or route

On is used with buses, trains, planes, ships, and roads.

We travelled on the ferry overnight.
They travelled on Highway 1 for hours.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
travel to
They travelled to Brazil.
Shows the destination.
travel with
I travelled with two friends.
Shows companions.
travel in
She travelled in a small car.
Used for enclosed vehicles.
travel from
He travelled from Rome.
Shows the starting point.
travel on
We travelled on the subway.
Used for public transport or routes.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using in with buses and trains

English normally uses on for larger public transport.

✕ We travelled in the train. ✓ We travelled on the train.

Using on with cars

Use in for cars and taxis.

✕ She travelled on a taxi. ✓ She travelled in a taxi.

Leaving out to before destinations

Travel normally takes to before a place name.

✕ They travelled France in July. ✓ They travelled to France in July.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. We travelled ___ Paris by train.
2. She travelled ___ her sister across Europe.
3. They travelled ___ the bus during the tour.

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Frequently asked questions

Why do we say on a bus but in a car?

English usually uses on for larger shared transport and in for smaller enclosed vehicles.

Can travel be used without a preposition?

Yes. You can say travel abroad, travel widely, or travel frequently.

Is travel to home correct?

No. English normally says travel home without to.

tackle by, in, for, with or on? tack-on-onto-to-across, as "tag with" or "tag in"? tailor to, for, from, toward or towards? "taint by" or "taint with"? "take into", "take in" or "take to"? "talk about" or "talk to"? tally with, in, for, up or at? "tap into" or "tap on"? target at, by, for, to or in? tarnish by, in, with, after or as? "taste like", "taste of" or "taste in"?

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