E39: Talking about transportation in New York City

 

Yellow cabs in New York (ChevronZ, Wikimedia CC by SA 3.0)

OVERVIEW

 

 

 

NEW WORDS

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Nouns.

  • aerial tramway (plural: tramways) transporting passengers in carriers suspended from cables and supported by a series of towers.
  • airplane (plural: airplanes) any of various winged vehicles capable of flight and driven by jet engines or propellers.
  • arrival (plural: arrivals) where passengers arrive in the airport.
  • bicycle (plural: bicycles) a light frame mounted on two typically wire-spoked wheels one behind the other and usually having a seat, handlebars for steering, brakes, and two pedals by which it is driven.
  • bus (plural: buses) a long motor vehicle for carrying passengers, usually along a fixed route.
  • bus station (plural: stations)/ bus terminal/ bus depot the point where a bus route starts or ends; an off-road location with at least basic facilities for passengers.
  • bus stop (plural: stops) a place on a bus route, usually marked by a sign, at which buses stop for passengers to alight and board.
  • car (plural: cars)/ automobile (plural: automobiles) a self-propelled road vehicle designed to carry passengers, especially one with four wheels that is powered by an internal-combustion engine or electrically.
  • connection (plural: connections) a transfer by a passenger from one conveyance to another.
  • delay (plural: delays) being put off to a later time.
  • departure (plural: departures) where passengers depart for boarding an aircraft at the airport.
  • ferry (plural: ferries) a vessel for transporting passengers and usually vehicles across a body of water, especially as a regular service.
  • gas station (plural: stations/ service station (plural: service stations) a place equipped for servicing automobiles, as by selling gasoline or making repairs.
  • helicopter (plural: helicopters) an aircraft capable of hover, vertical flight, and horizontal flight in any direction. Most get all of their lift and propulsion from the rotation of overhead blades.
  • journey (plural: journeys) the act of traveling from one place to another, especially when involving a considerable distance; a trip.
  • motorcycle (plural: motorcycles) a two-wheeled motor vehicle resembling a heavy bicycle, sometimes having a sidecar with a third wheel.
  • overpass a passage, roadway, or bridge that crosses above another roadway or thoroughfare.
  • passenger (plural: passengers) a person traveling in a car, train, boat, etc, not driven by him or her.
  • pedestrian (plural: pedestrians) a person traveling on foot; a walker.
  • public transport a system of buses, trains, etc, running on fixed routes, on which the public may travel.
  • railway (plural: railways) the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight.
  • return ticket (plural: tickets) a ticket to a place and back.
  • roundabout/ traffic circle (plural: roundabouts, circles) a road junction in which traffic streams circulate around a central island.
  • rush hour (plural: hours) a regular period of heavy traffic, especially at the beginning or end of a workday.
  • scooter (plural: scooters) a vehicle ridden while standing that consists of a narrow footboard mounted between or atop two wheels tandem that has an upright steering handle attached to the front wheel.
  • ship (plural: ships) a vessel of considerable size for deep-water navigation.
  • single ticket (plural: tickets) a ticket for a journey from one place to another but not back again.
  • subway (plural: subways) an underground urban railroad, usually operated by electricity.
  • subway station (plural: stations) a station that provides a means for passengers to purchase tickets and board trains.
  • taxi (plural: taxis)/ cab (plural: cabs) a car, usually fitted with a taximeter, that may be hired, along with its driver, to carry passengers to any specified destination.
  • ticket (plural: tickets) a slip, usually of paper or cardboard, serving as evidence that the holder has paid a fare or admission or is entitled to some service.
  • traffic the movement of vehicles, ships, aircraft, persons, etc., in an area or over a route.
  • traffic jam (plural: traffic jams) a number of vehicles so obstructed that they can scarcely move.
  • train (plural: trains) a series of connected railroad cars pulled or pushed by one or more locomotives.
  • train station (plural: stations) the terminal where trains load or unload passengers or goods.
  • transit the passage or conveyance of goods or people.
  • transportation a means or system of transporting or conveyance.
  • trip (plural: trips) any tour, journey, or voyage.
  • vehicle (plural: vehicles) any conveyance in or by which people or objects are transported, especially one fitted with wheels.

Adjectives.

  • crowded filled near or to capacity.
  • direct proceeding without interruption in a straight course or line.
  • nonstop done without pause or interruption.

Verbs.

  • to arrive to reach a destination.
  • to board to enter or go aboard.
  • to commute to travel some distance regularly between one’s home and one’s place of work.
  • to drive to guide, control, or direct (a vehicle).
  • to get in to succeed in entering a place.
  • to get off to leave a place (e.g., a train or bus).
  • to get on to go on.
  • to get out to leave a place.
  • to land to arrive in a particular place.
  • to merge merging traffic is when two traffic streams combine into a single lane.
  • to reach to arrive at.
  • to ride to be carried or conveyed, as in a vehicle.
  • to set off  to start on a journey.
  • to set out to begin or embark on a journey.
  • to transit to pass across or through.
  • to travel to go from one place to another, as on a trip; journey.

Adverbs.

  • slowly not moving or able to move quickly.

Expressions

  • bumper to bumper traffic occurs when the vehicles are so close to one another that they are almost touching and are moving very slowly.
  • on time used to describe something that arrives, happens, or is done when it should and is not late.
  • to hit the road to leave a place or begin a trip.
  • to hitch a ride to get a ride from someone for free.

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VISUAL VOCABULARY

  • Let’s travel on some methods of transportation in the United States
  • Let’s travel on some methods of transportation in Canada
  • Let’s travel on some methods of transportation in the United Kingdom
  • Let’s travel on some methods of transportation in Ireland
  • Let’s travel on some methods of transportation in Australia
  • Let’s travel on some methods of transportation in New Zealand

KEY PHRASES

 

 

GRAMMAR TIPS

 

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

United States

 

Canada

 

United Kingdom

 

Ireland

 

Australia

 

New Zealand