Bus drive or bus ride?

[Gromit]

Can I use the noun "drive" for all kinds of vehicles including buses? Some dictionaries tell me that "drive" is a journey in a car or other vehicle, other dictionaries just list cars. I've always thought that "drive" cannot be combined with bus but only with "ride".

Thanks for your help!

[Edison_Chen_e_c]

As what I know, 'I ride in the bus/train to look around.' is correct because the verb 'ride' is an 'vi' meaning you "TAKE" that vehicle.

But, if we use an 'vt' then we say:
I drive the bus there. (you're the bus driver)
I take the bus there. (you might be the visitor)
Another usage:
I go there by bus. (you just tell people how you go there)

ps I just share what I know and if there's anything wrong please help correct it. Thanks very much.

[Mister Micawber]

.
We are dealing with two different items. One case is that the noun, a drive, takes no vehicle as an attributive modifier-- that is, we do not use 'a car drive' or 'a truck drive' or 'a bus drive'-- but we can enjoy 'car rides', 'truck rides', and 'bus rides', whether we are driver or passenger.

In the form, 'take a drive', however, it is my experience that this casual expression does apply only to cars (although I could well take a drive in my pickup truck/on my motorcycle/other private vehicle). This expression applies if the speaker is driving, but can be extended to passengers, as in:

Friend with no license: 'Let's take a drive out to the lake, shall we?'
Friend with license: 'OK-- I'll get my carkeys.'
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Edison_Chen_e_c]