Key points about describing transport and travel options
Use A preposition is a word such as 'at', 'for', 'with', 'into' or 'from' which is usually followed by a noun or pronoun. They are used to show where something is in place or time. à and en in front of modes of transport.
Prepositions can also be used to describe where places in town are in relation to each other.
This guide contains a video as well as listening and reading practice.
Video - Travelling by train
Watch the video of Detchen as she travels to Orléans by train, discovers street art and visits the local market.
Detchen uses prepositions to talk about travelling by train
Bonjour !
Je m’appelle Detchen et je suis prof de français.
Mais j’enseigne en ligne donc je peux voyager très facilement.
J'habite le plus souvent à Paris, dans le nord de la France.
Aujourd’hui, je voyage pour le plaisir !
Je vais aller passer la journée à Orléans.
Orléans est à 1 heure en train de Paris.
J’adore prendre le train, parce que c'est plus écologique que la voiture et plus confortable aussi: j'aime bien lire dans le train !
Allons-y !
J’ai de très bons amis à Orléans.
Ils m’ont donné des conseils pour passer une super journée !
Quand j’arrive dans une nouvelle ville, j’adore marcher.
À Orléans, on peut admirer l’art dans les rues.
J’adore les mosaïques.
D’ailleurs, saviez-vous qu'en français, on utilise en général l’expression anglaise “street art” ?
À Orléans, on peut aussi aller au marché.
J’adore les marchés. Les marchés, c’est typique de la France.
Les fruits et légumes sont frais au marché. J’adore !
J’ai passé une super journée !
Il y a encore plein de choses à faire, mais il est temps de s’arrêter.
Je peux rentrer à Paris ou je peux dormir chez mes amis, qui ont une chambre libre.
Quand je voyage comme ça, j’essaie toujours de dormir chez des amis ou chez ma famille, c’est mieux et moins cher qu'une chambre d'hôtel !
Si vous venez en France, n’hésitez pas à demander autour de vous.
Peut-être que l’ami d’un ami aura une chambre pour vous !
Translation
Hello!
My name is Detchen and I am a French teacher.
But I teach online so I can travel very easily.
I live most often in Paris, in the north of France.
Today, I’m travelling for fun!
I'm going to go and spend the day in Orléans.
Orléans is one hour by train from Paris.
I love taking the train, because it’s more ecological than by car and more comfortable too: I like reading on the train!
Let's go!
I have some great friends in Orleans.
They gave me tips so I can have a great day!
When I arrive in a new city, I love walking.
In Orléans, you can admire the art in the streets.
I love mosaics.
By the way, did you know that in French, we generally use the English expression “street art”?
In Orléans, you can also go to the market.
I love markets. Markets are typical of France.
Fruits and vegetables are fresh at markets. I love it!
I've had a great day!
There's still plenty of things to do, but it's time to stop.
I can go back to Paris or sleep at my friends', who’ve got a spare room.
When I travel like this, I always try to stay with friends or family, it's better and cheaper than a hotel room!
If you come to France, don't hesitate to ask around.
Maybe a friend of a friend will have a room for you!
Vocabulary - Transport and travel
See how to talk about forms of transport in French.
Click or tap on Show more to see a list of useful vocabulary for describing forms of transport.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| à pied | on foot |
| à vélo | by bike |
| en avion | by plane |
| en bateau | by boat |
| en (auto)bus | by bus |
| en car | by coach |
| en train | by train |
| en voiture | by car |
For example:
Je vais au collège à pied. - I go to school on foot / I walk to school.
J’aime voyager en train. - I like travelling by train.
Useful words and phrases you might hear when travelling include
| French | English |
|---|---|
| l’aéroport | airport |
| la gare | railway station |
| Le depart est à dix heures. | The departure is at 10 am. |
| Le vol est en retard. | The flight is late. |
| Je voudrais un billet pour Paris, s’il vous plait. | I would like a ticket to Paris, please. |
| Montrez votre carte d’identité ou votre passeport. | Show your identity card or passport. |
Grammar - Prepositions
Use the prepositions en or à in front of modes of transport to talk about how you travel around.
Use en for modes of transport that you can get into, for example a bus or car. For example:
Je n’aime pas voyager en bus. - I don’t like travelling by bus.
Je rentre en taxi. - I’m going home by taxi.
Use à for modes of transport that you can’t get into, for example a bike or a horse. For example:
Je suis allé en ville à vélo. - I went into town by bike.
Je voudrais monter à cheval. - I would like to ride a horse.
Prepositions - Mini quiz
Translate the following sentences into French.
I go to school by bike.
Je vais au collège / à l’école à vélo.
Use à with modes of transport you can’t get into, for example, a bike.
I prefer to go by plane.
Je préfère aller en avion.
Use en with modes of transport you can get into, for example, a plane.
I don’t like travelling by boat.
Je n’aime pas voyager en bateau.
Use en with modes of transport you can get into, for example, a boat.
I went into town by bus.
Je suis allé(e) en ville en bus.
Use en with modes of transport you can get into, for example, a bus.
Reading practice
Thomas
Je ne vais jamais voyager en avion. Il y a déjà trop de pollution de l’air. Je préfère aller en bateau parce que le train est plus cher.
Anaïs
Normalement on va en vacances en Angleterre, en avion. Je n’aime pas trop traverser la Manche en ferry car je suis toujours malade en mer.
Mahmoud
L’année prochaine, nous allons faire un tour à vélo en Europe. Cependant, on va aller en train pour les longues distances.
- Who is going to travel by bike on holiday?
The answer is Mahmoud.
- Who likes travelling by boat?
The answer is Thomas.
- Who takes the plane to go on holiday?
The answer is Anaïs.
- Who thinks about the environment when choosing how to travel?
The answer is Thomas.
Click or tap on Show more to read the translations of what Thomas, Anaïs and Mahmoud have posted.
Thomas
Je ne vais jamais voyager en avion. Il y a déjà trop de pollution de l’air. Je préfère aller en bateau parce que le train est plus cher.
I am never going to travel by plane. There is already too much air pollution. I prefer going by boat because the train is more expensive.
Anaïs
Normalement on va en vacances en Angleterre, en avion. Je n’aime pas trop traverser la Manche en ferry car je suis toujours malade en mer.
Normally we go on holiday in England. I don't really like crossing the Channel by boat as I am always seasick.
Mahmoud
L’année prochaine, nous allons faire un tour à vélo en Europe. Cependant, on va aller en train pour les longues distances.
Next year we are going to go cycling in Europe. However we are going to travel by train for the long distances.
Vocabulary - Understanding directions
Useful instructions for giving directions include:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Prenez la première rue à droite. | Take the first road on the right. |
| Prenez la deuxième rue à gauche. | Take the second road on the left. |
| Continuez jusqu’au parc. | Carry on up to the park. |
| Continuez jusqu’à la boulangerie. | Carry on up to the bakery. |
| Traversez le pont. | Cross the bridge. |
| Tournez à droite sur la place. | Turn right onto the square. |
| C’est assez loin. | It’s quite far. |
| C’est très près. | It’s very close. |
| C’est à 300 mètres d’ici. | It’s 300 metres from here. |
| C’est à deux minutes à pied. | It’s two minutes away on foot. |
Remember
You can add the suffix -ième to any number above the number one to change the meaning.
For example:
Trois rues. - Three roads.
La troisième rue. - The third road.
All Foundation Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Grammar - Prepositions of position
Useful prepositions for describing exactly where things are:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | in front of |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | behind |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | between |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | next to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | opposite |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | nearby, close, near to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | far from |
For example:
Le théâtre n’est pas loin d’ici. - The theatre is not far from here.
Le chien est entre les enfants. - The dog is between the children.
Il y a des arbres derrière les personnes. - There are some trees behind the people.
Remember
With prepositions that use de, you will need to change this to du or des with a masculine or plural noun.
For example:
C’est en face du cinéma. - It’s opposite the cinema.
Il y a un café près des magasins. - There is a café near the shops.
Prepositions of position - Mini quiz
Choose the correct translation for each of the following phrases.
behind the man
a. derrière l’homme
b. entre l'homme
c. devant l'homme
The correct translation is derrière l’homme.
Derrière means ‘behind’.
far from the temple
a. loin de la temple
b. loin du temple
c. loin des temple
The correct translation is loin du temple.
Loin de changes to loin du in front of the masculine, singular noun, temple.
near the church
a. près d'église
b. près de la église
c. près de l'église
The correct translation is près de l’église.
Près de is followed by l’ because église is a feminine, singular noun which starts with a vowel.
between the people
a. dans les personnes
b. entre les personnes
c. en les personnes
The correct translation is entre les personnes.
Entre means ‘between’.
Listening practice
You hear this online item giving tips about what to visit in a popular French tourist town.
Press Start to listen to each speaker and choose the correct location.
Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful vocabulary to use when describing transport and travel options.
Higher Tier - Vocabulary - Transport
Useful Higher Tier vocabulary for talking about travel and transport includes:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| en métro | on the underground / by tube |
| J’ai manqué le train. | I missed the train. |
| Gardez votre ticket jusqu’à la fin du voyage. | Keep your ticket until the end of the journey. |
| J’ai perdu mes bagages / ma valise. | I have lost my luggage / my suitcase. |
| J’ai réservé un siège. | Show your identity card or passport. |
| C’est un train direct. | It’s a direct train. |
All Higher Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Higher Tier - Vocabulary sheet
Now you have revised the important vocabulary and key grammar points for describing transport and travel options, why not have a look at Describing tourist attractions in French?
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