Lesson 6 – Public Transportation

Welcome to Lesson 6 of the Everyday English Speaking Course, about public transportation
– first, let’s learn some vocabulary!

The central place in the city where you go to get a bus or a train is called a station (bus
station or train station). The different points where you can get on or get off a bus or train
are called stops. Another word that is often used in train stations is platform – this is the
area inside the station where you wait for the train.

This is a platform in a train station.

(photo by Kevin.B)

We use the verb take to describe general use of buses and trains, for example:
“I took the bus from New York to Philadelphia.”
“You need to take the 3:15 train if you want to get there by 6:00.”

We use the phrasal verbs get on and get off to describe the specific actions of entering and
leaving the bus/train. You can also transfer from one bus to another bus, or from one train
to another train, for example:

“If you want to go to the museum, get off at the next stop.”
“You need to get on the B train and then transfer to the L train.”

Finally, bus and train systems have lines. Lines are the regular routes that the buses or

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trains travel. Each color on the map below represents a line in the New York City subway.
The black dots are stops.

Conversation #1 – Asking for information

Nancy: Excuse me – does this bus stop at Central Park?

Fred: No – this is the express bus. You need to take the M53 local – you just missed it.

Nancy: Oh no. How often does it come?

Fred: Every few minutes – you won’t have to wait long.

Nancy: Okay. How far is it to the park?

Fred: About seven or eight stops.

Nancy: Thanks!

(on the bus)

Nancy: Could you tell me when we get to Central Park?

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Bus Driver: Sure, no problem.

Nancy: Do you mind if I sit here?

Amanda: No, go right ahead.

(15 minutes later)

Bus Driver: Ma’am? You can get off here for Central Park.

Conversation Vocabulary & Phrases:

Whenever you want to talk to someone you don’t know, you can begin by saying excuse
me…

If you’re not sure if a bus or train goes to your destination, you can use these phrases:
“Does this bus stop at…?”
“Does this bus go to…?”
“Is this the bus to…?”

Fred informs Nancy that it’s an express bus, and she needs to take the local bus. An
express bus or train is one that does NOT make all the stops – it skips (passes) some stops.
A local bus or train makes all the stops along the way.

He also tells her that she just missed the bus – the bus departed before she arrived. In
English we always say “missed the bus / train / flight” (not “lost the bus / train / flight.”)

To ask about the time of a bus or train, you can say:

“How often does it come?”
o “Every hour.”
o “Every half-hour.”
o “Every ten minutes.”
“When’s the next bus/train?”
o “At 6:45.”
o “In twenty minutes.”

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 o “Not until 8.”
(“not until” is used when there will be a long time to wait)

And to ask about distance, you can say:

“How far is it to…?”
“How many stops until…”
“How long does it take to get to…”
The person might respond in number of stops (as in the conversation) or in number of
minutes (“About 15 minutes”).

Nancy wasn’t sure when to get off the bus, so she used this phrase to ask the driver to tell
her: “Could you tell me when we get to Central Park?” – you can ask this to the driver, or
to another passenger on the bus. When it’s time, the other person will say:
“You can get off here.”
“This is your stop.”

Unfortunately, if there is a problem, then the other person might say:

“You missed your stop.”
“We already passed it.”
“You’re on the wrong bus.”
“This bus doesn’t go to Central Park.”

Finally, if you want to sit down, but you’re not sure if there is a person occupying the seat
(or if a person has put their bag on the seat) you can say:
“Do you mind if I sit here?”
“Is this seat free?”
“Is this seat taken?”

Conversation #2 – Buying a ticket

Brian: Hi. I’d like a ticket to Boston, please.

Agent: One-way or round-trip?

Brian: Round-trip – leaving tomorrow morning and coming back on Saturday afternoon.

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Agent: OK, what time do you wanna leave? The train to Boston runs every hour, on the
hour, starting at 6 AM. The 6, 7, and 8 AM trains are peak hours.

Brian: Then I’ll take the 9:00 train.

Agent: And on Saturday afternoon there are trains leaving Boston at 2:30, 4:30, and 6:30.

Brian: Um, actually, maybe I’ll just buy a one-way ticket now, ‘cause I’m not quite sure
what time I wanna come back. Can I buy a ticket on the train?

Agent: Yeah, but it’s gonna be more expensive.

Brian: Oh. Well, in that case, I’ll take the 4:30 train. How much is the fare?

Agent: It’s $24 each way, so that comes to $48 total.

Brian: Is there a discount for students?

Agent: Yup, I’ll just need to see your student ID.

Brian: Here you go. Can I also have a copy of the schedule?

Agent: Sure.

Conversation Vocabulary & Phrases

To ask for a train ticket, you can say:
I’d like…
Can I have…?

Then complete the sentence with a one-way ticket if you only want a ticket from New York
to Boston… or a round-trip ticket if you want a ticket from New York to Boston AND a
return ticket from Boston back to New York.

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The agent says that the train runs every hour, on the hour – meaning exactly at 6:00, 7:00,
8:00, etc. Some buses and trains have more expensive fares for peak hours. Peak hours are
times like 7:00 – 9:00 AM and 4:00 – 7:00 PM, when many people are going to work or
coming home from work. An off-peak train is usually less expensive.

Brian says, “How much is the fare?” The word fare is a special word that refers to the
price of transportation tickets. He also asks about a discount for students. You can also say:
“Is there a discount for children?”
“Is there a discount for senior citizens?”
(senior citizen = 65 years old or more)

Conversation #3 – Getting a taxi

A taxi is sometimes also called a cab.

Photo: Ilya Plekhanov

There are 3 ways to get a taxi in the United States: First, you can phone a taxi service and
arrange for a taxi to pick you up at a specific time. To do this, you can say,
“I need a taxi to pick me up at (place/address) at (time).”
“I need a taxi to pick me up at 241 Main Street at 7:00 tomorrow morning.”
“I’d like a taxi as soon as possible – I’m at 1185 Brooklyn Avenue.”

The second way to get a taxi is to go to a place where there are many taxis already
waiting (like outside the airport or train station). Finally, you can hail a taxi (call a taxi) on
the street. To do this, you stand close to the street and extend your arm when you see a taxi
coming.

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Let’s look at a conversation you might have with the taxi driver.

Gina: Could you take me to the Greentree Hotel on 7th Avenue and 32nd Street?

Driver: Sure – hop in.

(hop in = an informal way to say “get in the car”)

Gina: How much will it be?

Driver: About… 25 to 30 bucks.

(bucks = a slang word for dollars)

Gina: Okay, and how long does it take to get there?

Driver: Probably 15 or 20 minutes.

Gina: Sounds good.

Driver: Do you have any bags?

Gina: Yes – these two.

(LATER)

Gina: Are we almost there?

Driver: Yes – it’s just around the corner.

Driver: This is it.

Gina: Great. How much do I owe you?

(= how much do I need to pay?)

Driver: $26.50

Gina: Here’s 30 – keep the change.

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Driver: Thanks. I’ll get your luggage.

Conversation Vocabulary & Phrases

To tell the taxi driver your destination, use the phrase “Could you take me to…?”
Some taxis have a flat rate – a fixed price for the trip – and others use a meter, the
equipment that increases the price depending on the distance.

This machine is called a meter.

Photo: Henry Salomé

Before you get into the taxi, it’s a good idea to ask:
“How much will it be?”
“How long will it take to get there?”

If the ride is taking longer than you expected, you can ask:
“Are we almost there?”
“How much longer?”

For paying, use these phrases:

“How much do I owe you?”
“How much is it?”

In the United States, it’s common to give a taxi driver a tip (extra money for the service).
The tip should be about 15% of the fare. You can do this by giving the driver extra money
and saying:
“Keep the change.”
(if you want him to keep all the extra money)

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 If the fare is $12 and you give the driver $20, you can say, “Just give me back $5”
(so the driver will keep $15).

Finally, if you want to get out of the taxi early, you can say:
“You can let me off here.”
“This is fine.”

The taxi will then pull over (go to the side of the street) and stop, so that you can get off.

You’ve finished Lesson 6! Now take the quiz to test your memory of the phrases from this
lesson.

Quiz – Lesson 6
Question 1
I'd like a __________ ticket to Philadelphia for tonight.
A. leaving B. one-way C. one-stop

Question 2
I'll ________ the earliest train tomorrow.
A. have B. leave C. take

Question 3
You __________ your stop - you should have gotten off at 42nd Street.
A. lost B. missed C. wrong

Question 4
Is there a flat rate or do you use the ____________?
A. machine B. meter C. numbers

Question 5
You need to get off at the second-to-last ________.
A. line B. stop C. point

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Question 6
Does this bus __________ to the Museum of Natural History?
A. pass B. arrive C. go

Question 7
How _______ does it take to get there?
A. much B. long C. far

Question 8
Could you please ___________ when we get to the museum?
A. get me off B. let me know C. advise

Question 9
You can ___________ here.
A. let me off B. put me off C. take me off

Question 10
The off-peak ________ is $5 less.
A. fee B. money C. fare

Question 11
Take the B train one stop, then __________ to the D train.
A. exchange B. move C. transfer

Question 12
Here's $40 - keep the _______.
A. fare B. change C. coins

Question 13
If you're in a hurry, take the _________ train - it'll get there faster.
A. exact B. express C. extreme

Question 14
When's the ________ bus?
In about twenty minutes.
A. future B. next C. often
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Question 15
Excuse me - is this seat _________?
A. gone B. passed C. taken

Quiz Answers
1.B 2.C 3.B 4.B 5.B 6.C 7.B 8.B 9.A 10.C 11.C 12.B 13.B 14.B 15.C

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