Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[mi]

Hello.

I can not get the difference between 'in the street' and 'on the street'.
Can you let me know how to use?

[Mister Micawber]

In the street is BrE; on the street is AmE (I cannot vouch for usage in the other Englishes) when used in such as: She lives in/on Beacon Street. Otherwise, in means on the surface of / in the middle of: Children, don't play in the street!
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[mi]

Thanks for your help!

[redset]

When you're talking about addresses in British English, you say on for streets and roads ('he lives on Beacon Street', 'the building's on this road' etc.). Kids can play in the street, but cars can be parked in or on the street. I think people tend to use on when describing things that are permanent or semi-permanent (like leaving a car parked for a while), and in for things that are more temporary.

[mi]

Thank you, redset!