I know that the verb "drive" is used with the vehicles"snowmobile" and "sled", but can anyone help me with the meaning of the verb "ride" in the sentences:

He rides a snowmobile.

 

Generally speaking, if you are a passenger or if you sit on something with your legs on either side, you "ride" it, not "drive" it--even if you are controlling it.

Just the thought of being on a snowmobile makes me feel cooler already on yet another scorching hot day where I live

 

A quick google shows both ride and drive for snowmobile. This Minnesota website uses drive and ride as does this Ontario one.  Even e-how uses both.

 

In my opinion I believe that in these links that to drive means to control or operate the vehicle and to ride means to travel or take your vehicle somewhere.  If you look at these links and substitute "control/operate the vehicle" where it says drive and substitute "travel/take" where it says ride it kind of makes sense.

 

What do you think?  Does that make sense to you?

 

In Riham�s examples though I believe that ride means to drive, to control/operate

 

Cheers

 

Jayho

 

 

 

I agree that we can use both "drive" and "ride" with a snowmobile, but definitely only "ride" with a sled. The reason for that is that a snowmobile is a motorized vehicle, so "drive" is appropriate. Also, as Doouglas said, you straddle it, so "ride" is also appropriate. The rest of your post does make sense, although I think we don �t need to go that far. For a snowmobile, "drive" and "ride" are essentially the same. There certainly is the control aspect of "drive" with a snowmobile, but in most situations that really doesn �t matter much.

 

Bruce