Vocabulary - journeys and modes of transport
Transport
Spain has a large variety of public transport options, much like the UK, including an extensive bus, coach and train network.
Image caption, un camión
A lorry
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Here is some useful vocabulary for describing journeys and modes of transport:
| barato/a | cheap |
| caro/a | dear, expensive |
| lento/a | slow |
| rápido/a | fast |
| fácil | easy |
| cómodo/a | comfortable, convenient |
| incómodo/a | uncomfortable |
| moderno/a | modern |
| práctico/a | practical, convenient |
| ruidoso/a | noisy |
| tranquilo/a | quiet |
| viejo/a | old |
| ecológico/a | environmentally friendly |
| el aeropuerto | airport |
| la estación | station |
| el vuelo | flight |
| ¿Dónde está...? | Where is...? |
| barato/a |
| cheap |
| caro/a |
| dear, expensive |
| lento/a |
| slow |
| rápido/a |
| fast |
| fácil |
| easy |
| cómodo/a |
| comfortable, convenient |
| incómodo/a |
| uncomfortable |
| moderno/a |
| modern |
| práctico/a |
| practical, convenient |
| ruidoso/a |
| noisy |
| tranquilo/a |
| quiet |
| viejo/a |
| old |
| ecológico/a |
| environmentally friendly |
| el aeropuerto |
| airport |
| la estación |
| station |
| el vuelo |
| flight |
| ¿Dónde está...? |
| Where is...? |
And here are some useful verbs to describe travel:
| bajar | to get off |
| coger | to catch (a bus/train etc) |
| esperar | to wait |
| hacer cola | to queue up |
| llegar (a) | to arrive |
| llevar | to carry |
| mojarse | to get wet |
| pagar | to pay for |
| olvidar | to forget |
| recoger | to pick up |
| salir (de) | to leave |
| subir | to get on |
| viajar | to travel |
| volar | to fly |
| bajar |
| to get off |
| coger |
| to catch (a bus/train etc) |
| esperar |
| to wait |
| hacer cola |
| to queue up |
| llegar (a) |
| to arrive |
| llevar |
| to carry |
| mojarse |
| to get wet |
| pagar |
| to pay for |
| olvidar |
| to forget |
| recoger |
| to pick up |
| salir (de) |
| to leave |
| subir |
| to get on |
| viajar |
| to travel |
| volar |
| to fly |
Read these passengers' opinions about different forms of travel. What do they say about the advantages and disadvantages? Write the answers in English.
Question
La bicicleta es un modo de transporte muy saludable, pero es lento y, si llueve, te mojas.
Complete the table in English:
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| bicycle |
| Transport | bicycle |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantages |
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| bicycle | healthy | slow/you get wet when it rains |
| Transport | bicycle |
|---|---|
| Advantage | healthy |
| Disadvantages | slow/you get wet when it rains |
Translation:
The bicycle is a very healthy means of transport, but it's slow and, if it rains, you get wet.
Question
El metro es un modo de transporte muy práctico. Los trenes son modernos, pero, en cambio, las estaciones son muy viejas.
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| underground |
| Transport | underground |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantages |
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| underground | convenient/modern | stations are old |
| Transport | underground |
|---|---|
| Advantage | convenient/modern |
| Disadvantages | stations are old |
Translation:
The underground is a very convenient means of transport. The trains are modern but, on the other hand, the stations are very old.
Question
No me gusta viajar en autobús. Es lento y bastante incómodo. En cambio, es barato.
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| bus |
| Transport | bus |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantages |
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| bus | cheap | slow/uncomfortable |
| Transport | bus |
|---|---|
| Advantage | cheap |
| Disadvantages | slow/uncomfortable |
Translation:
I don't like travelling by bus. It's slow and quite uncomfortable. On the other hand, it's cheap.
Question
El tranvía aquí en esta ciudad es muy práctico. Es cómodo, pero un poco ruidoso.
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| tram |
| Transport | tram |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantages |
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| tram | convenient/comfortable | noisy |
| Transport | tram |
|---|---|
| Advantage | convenient/comfortable |
| Disadvantages | noisy |
Translation:
The tram here in this town is very convenient. It's comfortable but a bit noisy.
Question
Me gusta mucho viajar en el AVE porque es moderno y muy rápido. Lo peor es que también es muy caro.
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| high-speed train |
| Transport | high-speed train |
|---|---|
| Advantage | |
| Disadvantages |
| Transport | Advantage | Disadvantages |
| high-speed train | modern/fast | expensive |
| Transport | high-speed train |
|---|---|
| Advantage | modern/fast |
| Disadvantages | expensive |
Translation:
I like travelling on the high-speed train very much because it's comfortable and very fast. The worst thing is that it's also very expensive.
