To ride

Hello again,

           Just got another question about "to ride". If I do not have a car and I would like to go by my friend's car, can I ask "Could you give me a ride?", or "May I ride with you?", or "May I hook up with you?"

          If I have to go somewhere by boat, can I say " I have to take a boat to get there", or "I have to ride a boat to get there." Thank you very much.

Hi! Another great question.

In the first instance, it's best to say "Can you give me a ride?" "May I ride with you?" is also acceptable. I wouldn't say "hook up with you" because this doesn't refer to riding in someone's car. To hook up with someone is to meet up with them. It can also mean to make out with someone (kiss a lot) in slang.

I would also say "I have to take a boat to get there," not 'I have to ride a boat." We generally don't use the verb "ride" when talking about going by boat. 

Amy