A "boat" is smaller than a ship and typically holds under 10 passengers, while a "ship" is larger and can hold hundreds to thousands of passengers along with cargo.
A "boat" can be run by a sail, a motor, or rowing, while a "ship" is larger and need to be propelled by high-power engines.
Boat
Boats can be used for recreational fishing, kayaking, rowing, canoeing, diving, or yachting. Speedboats can be used to water sports such as water skiing, parasailing, and wakeboarding while inflatable boats can be used for recreation or for safety, like lifeboats.
Example sentences
My uncle and I went fishing in his small boat at a lake.
She was afraid she would not be able to find the boat after she came up from diving.
The boat had a small cabin where my group of friends hung out and played card games.
My family rented a speedboat, so my cousins and I could try wakeboarding.
It was tiring rowing the boat upstream, even though it was not steep.
It took me a full 20 minutes to blow up the inflatable boat.
Ship
Examples of different types of ships include cruise ships, naval ships, cargo ships, research vessels, and commercial fishing vessels. These larger ships are typically used for either commercial or military use.
Example sentences
The commercial fishing ship could carry up to one hundred tons.
The flat ship is a military aircraft carrier that serves as a marine airbase where military aircraft are transported and maintained.
The company rented out a huge cruise ship so their long-time employees could enjoy a weekend out at sea.
The icebreaker ship cleared the ice in the area for the research ships to be able to safely navigate the icy region.
The patrol vessel is a military ship that patrols the shores of designated areas.
The cargo ship transports tens of thousands of tons of cargo containers to the port facility, which are then transported to the needed locations by eighteen-wheelers.
Quiz
Determine whether the following describes a boat or a ship. The answers are at the end of the page.
- A (boat/ship) that seats two passengers who use oars to propel it.
- A (boat/ship) that uses nets to catch tens of tons of fish out at sea.
- A military (boat/ship) that patrols shores to ensure security and enforce the law.
- A luxury (boat/ship) that hosts thousands of passengers for two nights.
- A small (boat/ship) that is used for recreational fishing.
- An inflatable (boat/ship) used by young adults having fun at the beach.
- A (boat/ship) that carries commercial cargo containers.
- A (boat/ship) that is used for parasailing at the beach.
- A (boat/ship) that uses a sail to catch the wind.
- A 1,000-foot long (boat/ship) that used high-power engines.
Answers:
- boat
- ship
- ship
- ship
- boat
- boat
- ship
- boat
- boat
- ship
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