ride

ride / rode / ridden / riding

To ride something is to move or travel in a vehicle or on an animal. You can ride a horse, a camel, an elephant, a bike, a motorcycle, a scooter, or an elevator.

ride

a. When we ride something, we travel.

there are specific reasons to use “ride” as a verb. A person who rides is either the operator or the vehicle or a passenger.

I ride my bike to school every day. (operator)
More people are riding their bikes to work these days. (operator)
It’s fun to ride a motorcycle. (operator)
How many people are riding on that bus? (passenger)
Do you know how to ride a horse? (operator)
Have you ever ridden in a self-driving vehicle? (passenger)
We rode in a crowded elevator all the way to the top floor of the skyscraper. (passenger)

ride in

a car

an Uber

the front seat, the back seat

ride on

a bike

a horse

a plane, a bus, a train

It’s not very expensive to ride on a train.

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She rides a bike in order to get around.

Note: You can ride a bike or ride on a bike. The preposition is optional.

The verb “drive” is different from “ride.” Use “drive” when a person is the operator of the vehicle. Use “ride” when a person is a passenger, except when a person is on top of the vehicle–such as a horse or a bike.

b. The word "ride" can be used as a noun.

A ride is a fun activity or it’s a trip in a vehicle.

Before buying her bike, Vanessa took it out for a ride.
German cars offer a nice, smooth ride.
Amusement parks have many different types of rides.
We had kind of a bumpy ride on the bus.
Do you need a ride? I can give you a ride if you need one. (When you offer to give someone a ride, you are trying to be helpful.)

They went for a ride on mountain bikes.
This is a great place to go for a ride .

Horseback riding is a fun way to enjoy the outdoors.
Have you ever been on horseback ride?
Let’s go for a ride!

c. expressions that use the word "ride"

Here are some common expressions that include the word “ride.”

He’s just going along for the ride. (He’s doing something that provides personal benefit, but he might not have complete faith in the activity.)
Let’s go for a joyride! (joyride = a fun experience in a vehicle)
Instead of taking her money out of the stock market right now, Martha says she’s going to let it ride. (let it ride = continue the risk in order to make more money)
The government gave many people a free ride during the pandemic, but those days are over. (a free ride = financial support)
We’re riding high on the success of our business. (ride high = feel good about success)