Warm-up
Travel and Transport
Journeys, tickets, comparing places, getting help
Today’s grammar
Talk first
- How do you usually travel?
- What is the best journey you ever had?
- What sounds do you remember from a station or an airport?
After this lesson you will be able to...
- Compare places, transport and experiences.
- Buy tickets and ask for travel information.
- Describe a journey from start to finish.
- Use comparatives and superlatives correctly.
Vocabulary
Words to learn
| ticket | квиток One ticket to Lviv, please. |
| platform | платформа The train leaves from platform four. |
| departure / arrival | відправлення / прибуття The departure is at nine. |
| delay | затримка There is a delay of twenty minutes. |
| single / return | в один бік / туди й назад A return ticket, please. |
| seat | місце Is this seat free? |
| luggage | багаж Can you help me with my luggage? |
| passport control | паспортний контроль We waited at passport control. |
Grammar
Comparative adjectives
We use comparatives to compare two things. For short adjectives (one syllable) add -er: fast → faster, cheap → cheaper, old → older. If the adjective ends in -e add -r: nice → nicer. Short adjectives with consonant-vowel-consonant double the last letter: big → bigger, hot → hotter. After a consonant + y change y to -ier: easy → easier, noisy → noisier.
For longer adjectives (two or more syllables) use “more” or “less”: more expensive, more comfortable, less crowded. Use “than” after the comparative: The train is faster than the bus.
Irregular: good → better, bad → worse, far → farther or further.
| The train is cheaper than the plane. |
| My flat is bigger than my old flat. |
| Travelling by bus is more tiring than travelling by train. |
| This journey was better than the last one. |
Superlative adjectives
We use superlatives to say that something is number one in a group. Short adjectives: the + adjective + -est: the fastest, the cheapest, the biggest, the easiest. Longer adjectives: the most + adjective: the most beautiful, the most comfortable, the least expensive.
Irregular: the best, the worst, the farthest. We often add “in” or “of”: the best restaurant in town, the most interesting city of all.
| It was the best trip of my life. |
| This is the most comfortable seat on the train. |
| Which is the cheapest way to travel? |
| He is the fastest runner in our group. |
As … as and travel questions
“As … as” says that two things are equal: The bus is as fast as the tram. Negative: not as … as: The bus is not as comfortable as the train.
Useful travel questions: What time does the train leave? Which platform does it leave from? How long does the journey take? How much is a single ticket? Is there a direct train? Could you help me with my luggage, please? Is this seat free?
| The bus is not as fast as the train. |
| My brother is as tall as my father. |
| How long does the journey take? |
| Is there a direct train to Kharkiv? |
Speaking
Easy — warm up your speaking
- How do you usually travel to work or study?
- Which is faster: bus or train?
- Do you prefer travelling by plane or by train?
- What was your last journey?
- How long did it take?
- Do you like travelling alone or with other people?
- Which city did you like best?
- What do you always take on a trip?
- Is it cheaper to travel by bus or by train?
- What is the most beautiful place in your country?
- Where do you want to go next?
- Do you get tired on long journeys?
Medium — say more
- Compare two places you know: a city and a village. Which do you prefer?
- Describe your best journey. What was great about it?
- What was the worst journey you had? What went wrong?
- What helps you feel safe and comfortable when you travel?
- How do you find your way in a new city?
- What can airports and stations do to be easier for all passengers?
- Which is the most interesting country you visited, and why?
- What is the best way to travel in your country? Why?
- Describe the sounds of a railway station.
- Which is more important when you travel: price, speed or comfort?
- How do you organise a trip: tickets, hotel, luggage?
- Compare travelling now and travelling twenty years ago.
Deeper — explain and give reasons
- Is travelling the best way to learn about the world?
- Should people travel less to protect the environment?
- What is the most important thing to remember when you travel to a new country?
- Is it better to plan a trip or be spontaneous? Why?
- How can we make travel more friendly for older people and people with disabilities?
- Which place in the world is the most special for you, and why?
- What can we learn from people who live in other countries?
- If you could travel anywhere for free, where and how would you go?
More questions
- How do you usually travel to another city?
- Which is cheaper in your country: the bus or the train?
- What is the longest journey you have ever made?
- What is the most beautiful place you have ever been to?
- Do you prefer travelling by plane or by car?
- How can I get to the railway station from here?
- What is the best way to travel around your city?
- Which is more tiring: a long bus ride or a long flight?
- What do you always take with you on a trip?
- Do you travel light or take a lot of bags?
- Is it more fun to travel alone or with friends?
- How long does it take to get from your home to the nearest airport?
Opinions and what-ifs
- What is the most interesting city in the world, in your opinion?
- Is it better to plan a trip carefully or to travel without a plan?
- Is it as nice to stay at home on holiday as to travel?
- What is the biggest problem with public transport in your city?
- Would you like to live in a country with better weather? Where?
- Which is the most comfortable way to travel? Why?
- What was the worst journey of your life?
- Will people travel more or less in the future?