Exercise 1
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence about transport and getting around.
Example: We took the _____ to cross the river. (boat / train / bus)
Answer: We took the boat to cross the river.
Transport and Getting Around
Getting from one place to another is something we do every day. Whether you are catching a bus to work, taking the train to another city, or simply walking to the shops, knowing the right vocabulary for transport and getting around is essential for everyday life and travel. In this lesson, you will learn key words and phrases to help you talk about different types of transport, buy tickets, ask for directions, and describe journeys confidently.
Mini Situation: A Morning Journey
Maria lives in the city centre. Every morning, she gets on the bus near her flat and gets off at the train station. She buys a ticket at the ticket machine and catches the 8:15 train to work. Sometimes the train is late, so she has to wait on the platform. On Fridays, she prefers to take a taxi because it is faster. Read through the vocabulary below and you will understand every part of Maria's journey!
Key Vocabulary & Meaning Breakdown
1. Types of Transport
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| bus | noun — a large vehicle that carries many passengers along a fixed route | I take the bus to school every morning. | catch a bus, miss a bus, bus stop, bus route, bus driver |
| train | noun — a vehicle that travels along railway tracks | The train to London leaves at nine o'clock. | catch a train, take a train, train station, train ticket, by train |
| tram | noun — a vehicle similar to a bus that runs on tracks in the street | We took the tram to the city centre. | tram stop, tram line, by tram |
| underground / metro / tube | noun — a railway system that travels under the ground in a city | The fastest way to travel in London is by underground. | underground station, take the metro, tube map. Note: "tube" is informal British English for the London underground. |
| taxi / cab | noun — a car with a driver that you pay to take you somewhere | She called a taxi to get to the airport. | take a taxi, call a taxi, taxi driver, taxi rank, by cab |
| car | noun — a private vehicle with four wheels and an engine | My father drives his car to work every day. | drive a car, park a car, by car, car park, hire a car |
| bicycle / bike | noun — a two-wheeled vehicle that you ride by pushing pedals | She rides her bike to the park at weekends. | ride a bike, cycle to, bike lane, by bicycle |
| motorbike / motorcycle | noun — a two-wheeled vehicle with a powerful engine | He travels to work on his motorbike. | ride a motorbike, motorbike helmet |
| ferry | noun — a boat that carries passengers and sometimes vehicles across water | We took the ferry from Dover to Calais. | catch a ferry, take a ferry, ferry port, by ferry |
| plane / aeroplane | noun — a flying vehicle with wings and engines | They travelled to Spain by plane. | catch a plane, take a plane, by plane, plane ticket, board a plane |
2. Places and Facilities for Transport
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| bus stop | noun — a place on the street where buses stop to let passengers on and off | I waited at the bus stop for twenty minutes. | wait at a bus stop, bus stop sign |
| train station | noun — a building where trains stop and passengers get on or off | The train station is in the city centre. | arrive at the station, leave from the station, station platform |
| platform | noun — the raised area at a train station where passengers wait and board trains | The train leaves from platform four. | wait on the platform, platform number |
| airport | noun — a large area where planes take off and land | We arrived at the airport two hours before the flight. | go to the airport, arrive at the airport, airport terminal |
| car park | noun — an area or building where you can leave your car | We left the car in the car park near the shopping centre. | park in a car park, car park ticket. Note: In American English, this is called a "parking lot". |
| port | noun — a town or place next to water where ships and ferries arrive and leave | The ferry departs from the port at midnight. | arrive at the port, ferry port, harbour |
| petrol station | noun — a place where you can buy fuel for your car | We stopped at the petrol station to fill up the tank. | stop at a petrol station, fill up at a petrol station. Note: In American English, this is called a "gas station". |
| ticket office | noun — a place in a station or transport hub where you buy tickets | She bought her ticket at the ticket office. | go to the ticket office, ticket machine (the automatic version) |
3. Travel Actions and Key Expressions
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| catch | verb — to get on a bus, train, or plane in time before it leaves | I need to catch the 7:30 bus. | catch a bus / train / plane / ferry |
| miss | verb — to arrive too late for a bus, train, or plane | He ran to the station but he missed the train. | miss a bus / train / plane / flight |
| get on | phrasal verb — to board a bus, train, tram, or plane | She got on the bus at the city centre. | get on a bus / train / tram. Note: Use "get in" for a car or taxi. |
| get off | phrasal verb — to leave a bus, train, tram, or plane | We get off at the next stop. | get off a bus / train / tram |
| get in / get into | phrasal verb — to enter a car or taxi | She got into the taxi outside the hotel. | get in a car / taxi / cab |
| get out (of) | phrasal verb — to leave a car or taxi | He got out of the car and walked to the entrance. | get out of a car / taxi / cab |
| change | verb — to switch from one bus, train, or line to another during a journey | You need to change at Oxford Circus and take the Central line. | change trains / buses / lines, change at [place name] |
| book / reserve | verb — to arrange and pay for a ticket or seat in advance | We booked our train tickets online last week. | book a ticket / seat, reserve a seat, book in advance |
| depart / leave | verb — to start a journey; to go away from a place | The train departs at half past ten. | depart from, leave at [time], departure time |
| arrive | verb — to reach a place at the end of a journey | We arrive in Paris at seven in the evening. | arrive at [station / airport], arrive in [city / country], arrival time |
| drive | verb — to control and operate a car or vehicle | My uncle drives a lorry for his job. | drive a car / bus / lorry, drive to [place] |
| ride | verb — to travel on a bicycle, motorbike, or horse | She rides her bike to the supermarket. | ride a bike / bicycle / motorbike / horse |
| walk | verb — to move on foot | It only takes ten minutes to walk from here to the station. | walk to [place], go on foot, on foot |
| delay | noun / verb — a situation when something happens later than planned | There was a delay on the line, so the train arrived late. | a delay of [time], delayed by, train delay, flight delay |
| rush hour | noun — the busy time of day when many people are travelling to or from work | The roads are very crowded during rush hour. | during rush hour, rush hour traffic, morning / evening rush hour |
4. Directions and Getting Around on Foot
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech & Meaning | Example Sentence | Collocations / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| turn left / turn right | verb phrase — to change direction to the left or right | Turn right at the traffic lights and the post office is on your left. | turn left / right at [place], take a left / right |
| go straight on | verb phrase — to continue in the same direction without turning | Go straight on past the bank and you will see the station. | go straight ahead, continue straight on |
| crossroads | noun — a place where two roads cross each other | Turn left at the crossroads. | at the crossroads, reach the crossroads |
| roundabout | noun — a circular junction where roads meet and traffic goes around a central point | Take the second exit at the roundabout. | at the roundabout, go around the roundabout, take the first / second exit |
| traffic lights | noun — coloured lights (red, amber, green) that control the flow of traffic | Stop at the traffic lights and wait for green. | at the traffic lights, stop at the traffic lights |
| corner | noun — the point where two roads or streets meet | The café is on the corner of Bridge Street and Park Road. | on the corner (of), around the corner |
| opposite | preposition / adjective — on the other side of the road or area from something | The hotel is opposite the train station. | opposite the [building / place] |
| next to / beside | preposition — very close to something, with nothing in between | The bus stop is next to the supermarket. | next to / beside the [place / object] |
| near / close to | preposition — not far from a place | Is there a petrol station near here? | near here, close to the [place], nearby |
| map | noun — a drawing or image that shows roads, places, and areas | She checked the map on her phone to find the bus stop. | read a map, check a map, map of [place] |
Collocations & Useful Expressions
Collocations are words that naturally go together in English. Learning them as a pair or group helps you sound more natural. Here are the most important transport collocations at A2 level:
catch + a bus / train / plane / ferry
I usually catch the 8 o'clock bus to work.
miss + a bus / train / flight
We missed the last train and had to take a taxi.
take + a taxi / bus / train / tram
Let's take a taxi — it's faster than the bus.
by + car / bus / train / plane / bike / ferry / foot
It takes about two hours by train.
I prefer to travel by bike when the weather is nice.
Note: Use "on foot" NOT "by foot" when you are walking.
get on + a bus / train / tram / plane
She got on the tram at Central Square.
get off + a bus / train / tram / plane
Get off the bus at the third stop.
get in / get into + a car / taxi
He got into the taxi and said "The airport, please."
get out of + a car / taxi
She got out of the car and walked towards the entrance.
book + a ticket / seat / flight
I booked my ticket online three weeks before the trip.
buy + a ticket / return ticket / single ticket
Where can I buy a ticket for the underground?
change + at [place] / trains / buses
You need to change at Birmingham New Street.
arrive + at [station / airport] / in [city]
We arrive at the station at noon.
The flight arrives in Rome at six in the evening.
turn + left / right
Turn left at the traffic lights and go straight on.
go + straight on / ahead
Go straight on until you reach the roundabout.
single ticket — a ticket for one journey in one direction
A single to Manchester, please.
return ticket — a ticket for a journey there and back
A return ticket is cheaper if you travel on a weekday.
Important Differences & Confusing Words
Get on vs Get in
Many learners use these two phrasal verbs incorrectly. The rule is simple:
- Use get on (and get off) for large vehicles: buses, trains, trams, planes, ferries, and motorbikes.
- Use get in / get into (and get out of) for small vehicles: cars and taxis.
She got on the bus and found a seat.
He got into the taxi and told the driver the address.
Arrive at vs Arrive in
Both mean to reach a destination, but the preposition changes depending on the place:
- Use arrive at for specific places like stations, airports, hotels, and buildings.
- Use arrive in for cities, towns, and countries.
We arrived at the station ten minutes early.
They arrived in Berlin on a Tuesday morning.
By [Transport] vs On Foot
When we describe how we travel, we use by + the type of transport. However, when we walk, we say on foot, NOT "by foot".
- I go to work by bus.
- She travels by car.
- He went to the shop on foot. ✅
- He went to the shop by foot. ❌
Single Ticket vs Return Ticket
- A single ticket (also called a one-way ticket) takes you from Point A to Point B — one direction only.
- A return ticket (also called a round trip in American English) takes you from Point A to Point B and then back to Point A again.
I want a single to Oxford, please. — The speaker is only going to Oxford, not coming back on this ticket.
A return to Edinburgh, please. — The speaker is going to Edinburgh and coming back.
Road vs Street vs Avenue
- A road is a general word for a path for vehicles, usually connecting towns or areas.
- A street usually refers to a road in a town or city, often with buildings and shops on both sides.
- An avenue is often a wider, sometimes tree-lined road in a city.
Take the main road out of town and drive north for five kilometres.
The bookshop is on King Street, near the market.
Common Mistakes
❌ I arrived to the station five minutes late.
✅ I arrived at the station five minutes late. — Use "arrive at" for stations, airports, and specific places.
❌ She got on the taxi outside the hotel.
✅ She got into the taxi outside the hotel. — Use "get into" for cars and taxis.
❌ I go to work by foot every morning.
✅ I go to work on foot every morning. — Use "on foot", never "by foot".
❌ We missed the bus, so we catched the next one.
✅ We missed the bus, so we caught the next one. — "Catch" is an irregular verb. Past tense: caught.
❌ I need to change the train at Bristol.
✅ I need to change trains at Bristol. — Say "change trains" (no article), not "change the train".
❌ Can you give me directions to arrived at the museum?
✅ Can you tell me how to get to the museum? — Use "get to" when asking for directions to a place.
❌ The bus stop is in front the supermarket.
✅ The bus stop is in front of the supermarket. — Always say "in front of", not "in front".
❌ I booked two return tickets to go and come back to Paris.
✅ I booked two return tickets to Paris. — A "return ticket" already means you go and come back; no need to add extra explanation.
Transport and Getting Around: Quick Summary & Review
In this lesson, you have learnt a wide range of vocabulary for transport and getting around at A2 level. Here is a quick summary of the key points to remember:
- There are many types of transport: bus, train, tram, underground, taxi, car, bike, ferry, and plane.
- Use catch, take, miss, get on, get off, get in, get out of as your key action verbs for transport.
- Use by + transport (by bus, by train, by car) but always say on foot — never "by foot".
- Use get on / get off for large vehicles (buses, trains, planes) and get in / get out of for small vehicles (cars, taxis).
- Use arrive at for specific places (stations, airports) and arrive in for cities and countries.
- A single ticket is a one-way journey; a return ticket takes you there and back.
- Key direction phrases include: turn left, turn right, go straight on, at the crossroads, opposite, next to, and near.
- Important places include: bus stop, train station, platform, airport, car park, petrol station, and ticket office.
Now practise your transport and getting around vocabulary in the exercises below.
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