[6:05] Real Life English Unit 19: Common Expressions and Dialogues for Public Transportation

Learning English is not just about mastering grammar and vocabulary; it’s more important to use the language naturally in real-life scenarios. However, textbook sentences are often too formal and differ greatly from actual expressions used in daily life. To speak authentic English, you need to engage in dialogues from real-world contexts. In this article, we provide high-frequency English expressions used in daily settings such as social interactions, work, and travel. The following content from Real Life English Unit 19: Public Transportation will help you ditch textbook English and learn what locals actually say. Keep practicing to make your English more natural! VII. Transportation Unit 19 Public Transportation Part One: Expressions 1. Can’t you see there’s a line? 2. You haven’t taken the bus before? 3. Besides, you should let old people on first. 4. Excuse me, how do I get to Wall Street? 5. You should be able to find it from there. 6. Let the people off the train before you get on. 7. It’s faster than taking the bus or the subway. 8. Can I help you? 9. Would you like a window or an aisle seat? 10. I want an aisle seat. Part Two Dialogues 1. Buses A: Hey, buddy, can’t you see there’s a line? B: Oh, sorry. I didn’t know. A: What? You haven’t taken the bus before? B: No, I’m afraid not. A: Well, you have to wait in line like everyone else. Besides, you should let old people on first. B: Sorry. A: It’s all right. Where are you going? B: I wanted to see the White House. A: Oh, well, you don’t want this bus, anyway. It goes to Georgetown. B: Oh, no. A: It’s all right, though. Just get off at the next stop and catch the 79A. B: Oh, well, thank you very much. A: You’re welcome. 2. Subways & Urban Railways A: Excuse me, how do I get to Wall Street? B: Take the A train south to the Liberty Ave. stop. You should be able to find it from there. A: I’m sorry, but how do I know the subway train is going south? B: The southbound A trains say Brooklyn. A: O.K., so it’s this one? B: Yeah. Hey? What are you doing? Let the people off the train before you get on. A: Oh, sorry. B: Jeez. Tourists. 3. Taxicabs A: Oh, no. We’re going to be late for the meeting. B: No. We’ll get a cab. It’s faster than taking the bus or the subway. A: Oh, good. A: How much will it cost? B: Well, cabs are more expensive than the bus or the subway. It’ll probably cost around six dollars. B: Taxi!!! A: I can’t find the business card. Do you know the address? B: Yeah. I met with them back in March, remember? A: Right. B: Driver, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., please. 4. Airlines A: Good morning, sir. Can I help you? B: Yes, I need to check-in for the 11:20 flight to New York, please. A: O.K. Ticket, please. B: Here you are. A: Would you like a window or an aisle seat, Mr. Smith? B: I want an aisle seat as close to the exit door as possible, please. A: Very well. Do you have any bags to check? B: No, I just have this one small bag. A: Here you are, seat 12c. Please go to gate 23 after passing through the security checkpoint. B: Thank you. A: Have a nice day. B: You, too. Part Three: Substitution Drills 1. A: (Can’t you/ Don’t you) see there’s a line? B: Oh, sorry. 2. A: You haven’t (taken/ ridden/ been on) the bus before? B: No, I’m afraid not. 3. A: Besides, you should let (old people/ children/ pregnant women) on first. B: Oh, I didn’t know, sorry. 4. A: (Excuse me/ Pardon me/ I beg your pardon), how do I get to Wall Street? B: Take the A train… 5. A: You (should/ will) be able to find it from there. B: O.K. Thank you. 6. A: Let the people (off/ get off/ disembark from) the train before you get on. B: I see, that makes more sense, doesn’t it? 7. A: It’s (faster/ slower/ more expensive) than taking the bus or the subway. B: Oh, o.k. 8. A: (May/ Can) I help you? B: Yes. I need to check-in. 9. A: Would you like (a window or an aisle seat/ smoking or non-smoking/ first or business class)? B: An aisle/ window seat. / Smoking./ Non-smoking. / First class./ Business class. 10. A: I just have this one small (bag/ carry-on/ piece of luggage). B: O.K. Here’s your ticket, sir. Thank you. Part Four: Monologue The public transportation systems in most big cities in America are very good. New York, especially, has one of the largest and most useful subway and bus systems in the world. Public transportation helps to cut down on pollution and traffic. In big cities, with so many people, this is a very important problem. However, Americans do love their cars. The average family has two. So much more money goes into building roads, than new subway or train lines. In some cities, like Atlanta, this has meant a quick increase in pollution and traffic congestion as its population has grown. Part Five: Vocabulary and Phrases --bus 巴士；公共汽车 --subway 地下铁；地下铁火车 --taxicab/ cab/ taxi 出租车 --check-in (旅客登机前)验票并领取登机卡 --checkpoint 检查；关卡 --line (British English: queue)列、排；(等待顺序的)行列 --pass through 经历；通过 --make sense 使人懂，合理 The above is the content from Real Life English Unit 19: Public Transportation, compiled by Seven-Cai Wang. We hope it helps you improve your English!