Warm-up
Public Transport by Sound
Buses, trains, announcements and getting to places on time
Today’s grammar
Talk first
- How do you travel to work or to a lesson?
- What sounds do you hear at a bus stop?
- Do you like travelling by train?
After this lesson you will be able to...
- Talk about timetables and travel times.
- Use at, on and in with times, days and months.
- Ask about bus and train times.
- Describe what you hear on public transport.
Vocabulary
Words to learn
| a bus stop | автобусна зупинка I wait at the bus stop. |
| a platform | платформа The train leaves from platform two. |
| an announcement | оголошення I listen to every announcement. |
| a ticket | квиток I buy a ticket every month. |
| a driver | водій The driver is very kind. |
| a timetable | розклад The timetable is on the phone. |
| to arrive | прибувати The train arrives at six o’clock. |
| to leave | відправлятися The bus leaves in five minutes. |
Grammar
At, on, in with time
We use AT with clock times and some fixed expressions: at 8 o’clock, at noon, at night, at the weekend. We use ON with days and dates: on Monday, on 5 May, on my birthday. We use IN with months, years, seasons and parts of the day: in May, in 2025, in winter, in the morning.
Careful: We say “in the morning” but “at night”. We say “on Monday morning”.
| The bus leaves at eight o’clock. |
| I have a lesson on Monday. |
| My birthday is in March. |
| I wake up early in the morning but I sleep late at the weekend. |
Present simple for timetables
We use the present simple for fixed timetables and schedules, even when they are about the future: The train leaves at 7:15. The bus stops here every ten minutes. The shop opens at 9.
Questions: What time does the train leave? When does the bus arrive? Does this bus go to the centre?
| The train leaves at seven fifteen. |
| The shop opens at nine and closes at six. |
| What time does the next bus arrive? |
| Does this bus go to the centre? |
Asking about transport
Useful questions: Which bus goes to the centre? Where do I change? How much is a ticket? How long does the journey take? Does this train stop at…? Which stop is it? Could you tell me when we arrive?
Useful answers: You need number 12. Change at the next stop. It takes about twenty minutes. A single ticket is two euros.
| Which bus goes to the centre? |
| How long does the journey take? |
| Could you tell me when we arrive at the station? |
| Excuse me, is this seat taken? |
Speaking
Easy — warm up your speaking
- How do you go to the shop?
- Do you take the bus often?
- What time does your bus leave?
- Is the bus noisy?
- Do you like trains?
- Where is your nearest bus stop?
- How much is a bus ticket in your city?
- Do you listen to music on the bus?
- Do you sit or stand on the bus?
- What time do you usually leave home?
- Do you travel with someone?
- Do you like travelling in the morning?
Medium — say more
- Describe a bus journey you take often.
- What sounds do you hear on a bus or in a train?
- How do you know when you arrive at your stop?
- What do you do when you miss your bus?
- Tell me about a long journey you remember.
- What time does your day start and finish?
- How do you ask for help on public transport?
- What is good and bad about the bus?
- Why do some people prefer the train to the bus?
- How do you feel at a busy station?
- What do you listen to on a long trip?
- Who do you travel with, and what do you talk about?
Deeper — explain and give reasons
- How can public transport be better for everyone?
- Do you think public transport should be free? Why or why not?
- Is it better to live near a station or a quiet place? Why?
- How do announcements help people on a train?
- What are the advantages of travelling by bus compared with a car?
- Why is being on time important in your culture?
- Do you think trains are better for the environment? Explain.
- If you could travel anywhere by train, where would you go?
More questions
- What time does the train leave?
- When does the next bus arrive?
- Which bus goes to the centre?
- How long does the journey take?
- Does this train stop at your town?
- Where do you change?
- What do you do on Monday morning?
- Where do you wait at the bus stop?
- What do you do on the weekend?
- In which month do you travel most?
- Do you always arrive on time?
- Which platform do you usually use?
Opinions and what-ifs
- Do you think buses are comfortable enough?
- Would you like to be a bus driver? Why?
- Is it nicer to travel alone or with friends?
- What if the bus never came?
- Which is better: a day trip or a long holiday?
- Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
- Would you rather take the train or fly?
- What advice would you give to a first-time traveller?