Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about transport and travel.
Example: I take the _____ to school every morning. (bus / plane / ship)
Answer: I take the bus to school every morning.
Transport and Travel Vocabulary
Getting around is a big part of everyday life! Whether you are going to school, visiting family, or exploring a new city, you need to talk about transport and travel. Learning this vocabulary will help you understand directions, buy tickets, and talk about how you get from place to place.
Meet Maria
Maria lives in London. Every day she takes the bus to work. On weekends, she likes to travel by train to visit her sister. Last summer, she went on a plane for the first time and flew to Spain. She loves to travel!
In this lesson, you will learn the most important transport and travel words for beginners. Let's get started!
Key Vocabulary & Meaning Breakdown
1. Types of Transport
These are the vehicles and ways we travel from one place to another.
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| bus | noun – a large vehicle that carries many people along a fixed route | I take the bus to school every morning. | take the bus, catch the bus, miss the bus |
| train | noun – a vehicle that travels on rails and carries passengers or goods | We go by train to visit my grandparents. | take the train, catch the train, by train |
| car | noun – a small motor vehicle for carrying people | My father drives a red car. | drive a car, go by car, park the car |
| plane | noun – a flying vehicle that carries passengers through the air | We travel by plane when we go on holiday. | take a plane, fly on a plane, by plane |
| taxi | noun – a car with a driver that you pay to take you somewhere | She called a taxi to go to the airport. | take a taxi, call a taxi, get a taxi |
| bicycle / bike | noun – a vehicle with two wheels that you pedal with your feet | He rides his bike to the park. | ride a bike, go by bike, cycle to |
| boat | noun – a vehicle that travels on water | We took a boat to the island. | take a boat, go by boat, sail on a boat |
| underground / metro | noun – a train system that travels under the ground in a city | In London, we call it the underground. In Paris, it is the metro. | take the underground, ride the metro |
2. Places Related to Travel
These are important places you visit when you travel.
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| airport | noun – a place where planes land and take off, and passengers travel from | We arrived at the airport two hours early. | go to the airport, arrive at the airport |
| train station | noun – a building where trains stop to let passengers on and off | The train station is in the centre of the city. | go to the station, arrive at the station |
| bus stop | noun – the place where a bus stops to pick up and drop off passengers | I wait at the bus stop every morning. | wait at the bus stop, stand at the bus stop |
| ticket office | noun – the place where you buy tickets for transport | I bought my ticket at the ticket office. | go to the ticket office, buy at the ticket office |
| hotel | noun – a building where you pay to sleep and stay when you travel | We stayed in a nice hotel near the beach. | stay in a hotel, book a hotel, check in to a hotel |
| port | noun – a town or place next to water where ships and boats arrive and leave | The ship left the port at nine o'clock in the morning. | arrive at the port, leave the port |
3. Travel Action Words
These are verbs — action words — that we use when we talk about travelling.
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| travel | verb – to go from one place to another, often a long distance | I love to travel to new countries. | travel by bus/train/plane, travel abroad |
| drive | verb – to control and operate a car or vehicle | My mum drives me to school on Mondays. | drive a car, drive to (a place) |
| fly | verb – to travel through the air in a plane | We fly to Spain every summer. | fly to (a place), fly by plane |
| arrive | verb – to reach a place at the end of a journey | We arrive in Paris at six o'clock. | arrive at (a building), arrive in (a city/country) |
| depart / leave | verb – to go away from a place; to start a journey | The train departs at half past eight. | depart from, leave at (a time) |
| walk | verb – to move by putting one foot in front of the other | I walk to the bus stop every day. | walk to (a place), go on foot |
| book | verb – to arrange and pay for something in advance, like a ticket or hotel | She booked a hotel for three nights. | book a ticket, book a hotel, book online |
| pack | verb – to put things into a bag or suitcase before travelling | I always pack my bag the night before I travel. | pack a bag, pack a suitcase |
4. Travel Objects & Things You Carry
These are the things you use or carry when you travel.
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ticket | noun – a small piece of paper or card that allows you to travel on transport | I need to buy a ticket for the train. | buy a ticket, show your ticket, a return ticket |
| passport | noun – an official document with your photo that you need to travel to other countries | Don't forget your passport! | show your passport, carry a passport |
| suitcase | noun – a large, hard bag with a handle that you use to carry clothes when travelling | My suitcase is very heavy. | pack a suitcase, carry a suitcase, open a suitcase |
| bag / backpack | noun – a container you carry your things in; a backpack is worn on your back | I put my things in my backpack for the trip. | carry a bag, pack a bag, wear a backpack |
| map | noun – a picture or drawing that shows roads, cities, and places to help you find your way | We looked at the map to find the hotel. | read a map, look at a map, use a map |
Collocations & Useful Expressions
Collocations are words that go together naturally in English. Here are some important collocations for transport and travel:
take + the bus / the train / a taxi
I take the bus to work every day.
She took a taxi to the airport.
go + by + car / bus / train / plane / bike / foot
We go by train when we visit London.
He goes to school on foot.
catch + the bus / train
Hurry! We need to catch the bus!
miss + the bus / train / plane
She missed the train because she was late.
book + a ticket / a hotel / a flight
We booked our tickets online.
arrive + in + (city or country)
We arrive in Paris tomorrow morning.
arrive + at + (a building or specific place)
We arrive at the airport at seven o'clock.
pack + a bag / a suitcase
Did you pack your suitcase for the holiday?
go on + holiday / a trip / a journey
We go on holiday every August.
Important Differences & Confusing Words
Travel, Trip, or Journey?
These three words are often confused by beginners. Here is how to understand the difference:
Travel is a general word. It means the activity of going from place to place. We often use it as a verb or as an uncountable noun.
I love travel. / I love to travel.
Trip is a noun. It means a short visit to a place and back again. It includes the whole experience of going there and coming back.
We are going on a trip to Paris next week.
Journey is a noun. It means the time you spend travelling from one place to another. It focuses on the act of getting there.
The journey from London to Edinburgh takes about four and a half hours by train.
Arrive at vs. Arrive in
Use arrive in with cities and countries:
We arrive in Rome tomorrow.
Use arrive at with buildings and specific places:
We arrive at the hotel at midday.
By vs. On vs. In (for transport)
Use by when you talk about the type of transport in general:
I travel by train. / She goes by car.
Use on for buses, trains, planes, and bikes:
I'm on the bus right now. / She is on her bike.
Use in for cars and taxis:
He is sitting in the car. / We are in a taxi.
Common Mistakes
❌ I go to school with car.
✅ I go to school by car. — Use "by" before the type of transport.
❌ We arrived in the airport at nine o'clock.
✅ We arrived at the airport at nine o'clock. — Use "arrive at" for buildings and specific places.
❌ She missed her train because she didn't catch it.
✅ She missed her train because she was late. — "Miss" already means you did not catch something, so don't use both words together.
❌ I want to make a trip to Spain next summer.
✅ I want to go on a trip to Spain next summer. — We say "go on a trip", not "make a trip" in English.
❌ My journey to Paris was very good. I loved the city!
✅ My trip to Paris was very good. I loved the city! — A "journey" is only the time travelling. A "trip" includes the whole experience of being there.
❌ I take my bike by ride to work.
✅ I ride my bike to work. — We say "ride a bike", not "take by ride".
Transport and Travel: Quick Summary & Review
Well done! In this lesson, you have learned the most important transport and travel vocabulary for A1 level English. Let's look at what you have studied:
- Types of transport: bus, train, car, plane, taxi, bike, boat, underground
- Travel places: airport, train station, bus stop, hotel, port, ticket office
- Travel verbs: travel, drive, fly, arrive, depart/leave, walk, book, pack
- Travel objects: ticket, passport, suitcase, bag/backpack, map
- Key collocations: take the bus, go by car, catch the train, miss the plane, book a ticket, arrive in (city), arrive at (building)
- Key differences: travel vs. trip vs. journey / arrive in vs. arrive at / by vs. on vs. in
Remember: use by when you talk about transport in general (by bus, by train), and always use arrive at for buildings and arrive in for cities and countries.
Now practise transport and travel vocabulary in the exercises below.
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