Meaning & use
a scooter
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
a small motorcycle with a low seat and a step-through frame, often used for short trips in cities
Grammar: Countable; you can say 'a scooter', 'two scooters', or 'the scooter'.
Patterns
- ride a scooter
- on a scooter
- by scooter
He rides a scooter to the train station every morning.
She parked her scooter outside the café.
In many European cities, a scooter is cheaper than a car.
nouncountable
a child's toy vehicle with a low board, two or three small wheels, and a handlebar, moved by pushing the ground with one foot
Grammar: Also countable; often used with 'on': 'on a scooter'.
Patterns
- on a scooter
- ride a scooter
The little boy got a scooter for his birthday.
Kids were racing on scooters in the park.
nouncountable
a light electric vehicle with a small platform and handlebar, often used for short urban trips
Grammar: Countable; often called an 'e-scooter' in this sense.
Patterns
- rent a scooter
- on a scooter
You can rent a scooter through a phone app.
Electric scooters are common on city streets now.
Word forms
| plural | scooters |
|---|
Common combinations
- ride a scooter
- He learned to ride a scooter when he was six.
- on a scooter
- She arrived on a scooter.
- by scooter
- They traveled by scooter along the coast.
- electric scooter
- Electric scooters are quiet and easy to park.
- motor scooter
- A motor scooter is handy in heavy traffic.
Synonyms and how they differ
- moped
- A moped has pedals as well as a small engine, while a scooter usually has no pedals and a step-through frame.
- motorbike
- A motorbike is larger and more powerful, with a higher seat, so it is not the same as a scooter.
- motorcycle
- A motorcycle is a general term for any two-wheeled motor vehicle; a scooter is a specific type.
Word family
- scooter verb
- To travel by scooter; less common than the noun.
Commonly confused: a scooter or skateboard? a scooter or bicycle?
a scooter vs skateboard
A skateboard has no handlebar, while a scooter usually has one.
a scooter vs bicycle
A bicycle has pedals and two large wheels; a scooter is motorized or pushed with the foot.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
When talking about a means of transport in general, we use 'by' + singular noun without 'a' or 'the': 'by scooter'. 'On a scooter' is also possible but would need 'a'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a scooter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.