Getting Around the City — Easy English Conversation

Transcript

Introduction

A: Today we’re getting around the city — buses, trains, tickets, and the stop you always miss.

B: The English you need to buy a ticket, ask if you’re on the right bus, and get off in the right place.

A: Listen for these: to catch a bus, Is this the right bus for the station?, Which stop is it?, to change lines, a one-way ticket, and to miss the last bus — and a few more along the way.

B: One note: transportation words often change between countries, so we’ll give you the most common American and British versions.

A: After that, four short role-plays and a quick review, so you can practice out loud.

B: Practice today’s phrases in Recursio — link in the description.

What do you call it?

A: Let’s start with the big one. The train under the ground. What is it?

B: Depends on the city. In New York it’s the subway. In Paris and much of Europe, the metro.

A: And in London?

B: The Underground — or, if you want to sound local, the Tube.

A: So subway is common in North America, while metro is common in many other cities. “The Underground” and “the Tube” refer specifically to London’s system.

B: Exactly. You can’t say “I took the Tube in Paris.”

A: And careful with one of them. In British English, a “subway” can be a tunnel for walking under a road.

B: So if you ask for the subway in London, you might get a set of stairs.

A: In London, “the Tube” is the clearest choice. What about the thing on rails, in the street?

B: In American English you’ll often hear streetcar. In British English and many other places, tram is more common.

A: And light rail?

B: That’s a modern urban rail system. It may run along streets, on its own track, or both.

A: Good. And the bus is just the bus.

B: The bus is the bus, almost everywhere. Only one catch — in the UK, a long-distance bus is a coach.

A: And the place where you wait?

B: For a bus, a bus stop. For a train, a station. For the subway, a subway station.

A: And the little roof and the bench?

B: A bus shelter. Useful word in the rain.

Tickets

A: Now, tickets. This is where I always get confused.

B: There are three questions you need to answer. First: one trip, or two, or a whole day?

A: One trip in one direction is a one-way ticket.

B: And there and back is a round-trip ticket, in American English. In British English, one-way is “a single,” and round-trip is “a return.”

A: So: one-way and single. Round-trip and return.

B: And if you’re going to travel a lot in one day, ask for a day pass.

A: “Can I get a day pass?” That may be cheaper than buying several separate tickets.

B: And the second question: where do you buy it?

A: The machine, the counter, an app, or sometimes the driver.

B: And in many cities the driver doesn’t sell tickets at all, so check before you get on.

A: Good thing to know first. And the third question?

B: How you use it. In some cities you put the ticket in a machine — you validate it.

A: And with a card?

B: You tap your card, or your phone, on the reader. “Tap in” when you get on, and in some systems “tap out” when you get off.

A: And if you forget to tap out?

B: Then the system may charge you the highest fare. It’s a small, expensive mistake.

A: What’s a fare?

B: The fare is the price of the ride. “The fare is two fifty — two dollars fifty.”

A: Not the same as a fee.

B: A fee is money for a service — a booking fee, a card fee. A fare is only for travel.

A: And the person who checks tickets?

B: A fare inspector or a ticket inspector, depending on the system.

Getting on

A: Okay, I’m at the stop. The bus is coming.

B: Then you catch it. To catch a bus means to get to it before it leaves.

A: “To catch a bus.” “I catch the seven fifteen every morning.” “Run — we can still catch it.”

B: And the opposite is to miss it. We’ll come back to that one.

A: Now, the most useful question at any bus stop.

B: “Excuse me, is this the right bus for the station?”

A: That question has saved me in four countries.

B: And you can ask the driver, or just ask the person standing next to you.

A: And then I get on.

B: You get on a bus, a train, a plane. And you get off them.

A: Not “get in”?

B: For buses, trains, and planes, we normally use “get on” and “get off.” For cars and taxis, we use “get in” and “get out of.”

A: On the bus, off the bus. In the taxi, out of the taxi.

B: One exception — a bike or a motorcycle. You sit on top of those, so you get on and off them too.

A: Bus on and off, car in and out, bike on and off.

B: Those are the main patterns. And when you don’t know where to get off?

A: “Which stop is it for the museum?”

B: Or, “Could you tell me when to get off?” You can ask the driver or another passenger.

A: And if it’s important, I can watch the stop names on my phone or on the screen too.

B: Exactly. It’s useful to have a second way to check.

Changing and timing

A: Now, my trip has two parts. I take one line, then another one.

B: Then you change lines. Or you change trains. Both are normal.

A: “To change lines.” “You change lines at Central Station.”

B: And you say where with “at” — “change at Baker Street.”

A: Is there another verb for it?

B: In American English, “transfer.” “Transfer to the blue line.” It can also be a noun for the connection between two parts of a trip.

A: Good to know. And how do I ask about the time between buses?

B: “How often does it run?” Every ten minutes, every hour — that’s what you’re asking.

A: “How often does the number four run?” “It runs every twenty minutes.”

B: And if someone says, “The next one is in ten minutes,” they mean you have ten minutes to wait.

A: So “in ten minutes” tells me how long I’ll wait.

B: Right. And the list of times is the schedule, in American English. The timetable, in British English.

A: What about the busy time of day?

B: Rush hour. The busy morning or evening period when many people are traveling.

A: “Avoid rush hour if you can.” “The traffic is terrible at rush hour.”

B: And if you’re in a car or a bus and nothing is moving?

A: You’re stuck in traffic.

B: “Sorry I’m late — I was stuck in traffic.” A sentence that is sometimes even true.

A: And if you want to remember these phrases, save them in Recursio, and it’ll remind you before you forget them.

B: One more timing word: a delay. “There’s a ten-minute delay on the red line.”

A: And the sign that shows when the next one comes?

B: The departure board, or just the screen. “Due” means expected — “the next train is due at ten past.”

When it goes wrong

A: Now the moment everybody knows. It’s late, I’m at the stop, and nothing comes.

B: Then you’ve missed the last bus. It means you got there too late, and the last one of the night has already gone.

A: “To miss the last bus.” “We missed the last bus and had to walk.”

B: And that’s the moment you choose between three things.

A: Which are?

B: A taxi, a ride-hailing app, or you walk it.

A: “To walk it” — that means to go on foot instead of taking a bus or a cab.

B: “It’s twenty minutes. I’ll walk it.” “We walked it, and it wasn’t that bad.”

A: And “on foot” is the neutral one — the one you’d write.

B: “We went there on foot.” Both are fine. “Walk it” is more conversational.

A: What do I say to a taxi driver?

B: “Could you take me to Green Street, please?” And at the end, “Could I have a receipt?”

A: And where you wait for a taxi?

B: A taxi stand, in American English. A taxi rank, in British English.

A: And if I get on the wrong bus completely?

B: Ask the driver where it’s best to get off and how to get back. The return stop may not be directly across the street.

A: What do I say to the driver?

B: “Sorry, I think I’m on the wrong bus. Where should I get off?”

Practice

A: Let’s use all of it. I’ll be the passenger, and you work at the ticket counter.

B: Good morning. Where are you going?

A: To the airport, please. What’s the best ticket?

B: One way, or coming back today?

A: Coming back this evening.

B: A round-trip is eleven fifty — eleven dollars fifty.

A: Great. I’ll take that. And how do I get there?

B: Take the red line to Central, then change to the blue line. Six stops.

A: So I change lines at Central. How often does the blue line run?

B: Every eight minutes at this time of day.

A: And how long is the whole trip?

B: About forty minutes, unless you hit rush hour.

A: Then I’ll go now. Thank you very much.

B: A few short questions, and you’ve got your whole morning planned.

A: And notice — I asked, you answered, and nobody used a difficult word.

B: Now the bus. I’ll get on, you be the driver.

A: Morning.

B: Good morning. Is this the right bus for the National Museum?

A: It is, yes. Four stops.

B: Great. Can I buy a ticket from you?

A: No, sorry. You need to buy it before you get on, or tap your card there.

B: I’ll tap. Like this?

A: That’s it. You’re all set.

B: Thank you. Could you tell me when to get off?

A: Sure. I’ll call it out.

B: Thank you very much.

A: And ten minutes later — the museum, on your left.

B: Perfect, thank you!

A: That’s a whole trip, and the hardest word in it was “museum.”

B: One more. I’ll work at the information desk.

A: Hi. I think I forgot to tap out at the airport yesterday.

B: Okay. The system may have charged you the maximum fare for that trip.

A: How can I check?

B: If this system gives you an online account, open your travel history in the app or on the website.

A: And if the fare is wrong?

B: Contact customer service and explain what happened. Whether they can change it depends on the system.

A: Thank you. I’ll check it now.

B: No problem. And remember to tap out when the system requires it.

A: Short, calm, and more realistic than arguing with a machine.

B: Last one. Missing the final bus can feel stressful, especially in an unfamiliar city.

A: Then let’s practice that call. You be the friend I phone.

B: Ready when you are.

A: Hi, it’s me. I’ve missed the last bus.

B: Where are you?

A: Outside the theater, on the corner of Green Street.

B: How far is it? Could you walk it?

A: About forty minutes. It’s raining, so I’d rather not.

B: Is there a taxi stand near you?

A: There’s one outside the station, two minutes away.

B: Then take a taxi. Text me when you’re in it, and text me when you’re home.

A: I will. Something like — “In the cab, home in twenty.”

B: Exactly like that. Short sentences, one problem, one solution.

A: And the useful part isn’t grammar. It’s knowing “I’ve missed the last bus” without having to think about it.

Quick review

B: Let’s do a quick review. I’ll ask a question, you answer in your head, and then you’ll hear the answer.

A: Let’s go.

B: You get to the bus before it leaves. What did you do?

A: You caught the bus.

B: You’re not sure the bus goes where you need. What do you ask?

A: Is this the right bus for the station?

B: Your trip has two parts and you switch trains in the middle. What do you do?

A: You change lines.

B: You’re in London, and you want a ticket there and back. What do you ask for?

A: A return.

B: It’s late, and the final bus has already gone. What happened?

A: You missed the last bus.

B: And it’s twenty minutes away, so you decide to go on foot. What do you say?

A: I’ll walk it.

B: Perfect. You’ve got them all.

Outro

A: So today we learned the English for getting around a city.

B: The subway. A one-way ticket. A round-trip ticket. To catch a bus.

A: Is this the right bus for the station? To get on and to get off. Which stop is it?

B: To change lines. How often does it run? Rush hour. To be stuck in traffic.

A: A taxi stand. To miss the last bus. And to walk it.

B: And remember the pairs: subway and metro, one-way and single, round-trip and return, schedule and timetable, taxi stand and taxi rank, bus and coach.

A: Learn one of each and recognize the other. That will help in many common travel situations.

B: Tomorrow’s story, “The Last Bus Home,” puts most of these into one evening.

A: If you want to review these phrases and remember them, open the link below and practice them in Recursio.

B: Thank you so much for listening, and see you in the next episode.