B2 COURSE

Unit 48 - Vehicles & Transport

Look at the sentences below and learn the travel related vocabulary in bold:

Here is some basic vocabulary for different kinds of travel:

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 B2 COURSE
Unit 48 - Vehicles & Transport

Kinds of Parts of People working Associated

Transport
vehicle vehicle with it words

petrol station,
car, bus, coach, boot, steering driver, motorist, break down,
road
tram, van, lorry wheel mechanic, chauffer breakdown
service

sleeping platform,
high-speed ticket
rail car, buffet, seat
train, express collector, conductor
coach reservation

liner, ferry, deck, bridge,  port, cabin,

sea captain, steward(ess)
yacht gangway cruise

duty-free
aircraft,
cockpit, ground staff, cabin shop, terminal,
air jumbo jet,
wings, aisle crew, air traffic runway, 
helicopter
controller security

VIDEO - Means of transport in English

Look at the following sentences and learn the new vocabulary in bold:

The aerial helps you get a better radio signal.

My bike is squeaking I better oil the bicycle chain.
I think there’s a problem with my engine. I’m going to open the bonnet and have a look.
Give me your bag and I’ll put it in the boot.
I didn’t damage my car. The bumper protected it.
The captain is in charge of the ship.
He’s so rich he has a chauffeur to drive him around.
We travelled to Madrid by coach.
The pilots fly the plane from the cockpit.
The train is packed with commuters every morning.

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 B2 COURSE
Unit 48 - Vehicles & Transport

The people who work on a boat or a plane are called the crew.

Someone who rides a bicycle is a cyclist.
I’m going to go up on deck and look for land.
A taxi driver.
My car broke down. I think there’s a problem with the engine.
I’d better go to a mechanic soon. Look at that black smoke coming from the exhaust.
Pay attention while the flight attendant shows you what to do if the plane has to land in water.
There’s a big hill ahead I’d better change gear.
Take your feet off that chair, the guard is coming.

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 B2 COURSE
Unit 48 - Vehicles & Transport

Put on the (hand)brake or you’ll roll back down this hill!

Let’s go for a walk and look at the boats in the harbour.
It’s getting dark you should turn the headlights on.
My car collided with the car in front.
I wasn’t looking where I was going and I crashed into a tree.
We didn’t try to control the boat, we were just drifting along.
I wasn’t swimming. I was just lying on my back floating in the sea.
My luggage is too heavy so I’ll have to have some of it shipped home before me.
We need to get some fuel. There’s a petrol station just up the road.
The fastest way of getting from London to Oxford is to take the motorway.
There’s always a lot of traffic on the roads in the morning and evening.
The High Street is closed because of roadworks.
Go over the bridge, turn left at the first junction, and then take the third exit on the roundabout.
You can’t leave your car here. You’ll have to use the car park.
Many towns have bus lanes so that people using public transport can get into and out of town more
quickly.
Wait for the traffic lights to turn green before you continue.
The speed limit in most towns and cities is 30 miles per hour.
Many cyclists fail to keep their bicycles in good condition or obey the rules of the road.
You can’t turn right into that street. It’s a one-way street.
When you’re driving through town, be careful of pedestrians crossing the street.
This road is very busy and dangerous. If you want to get to the other side, use the pedestrian
crossing.
I need to get a bus into town. Is there a bus stop near here?

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 B2 COURSE
Unit 48 - Vehicles & Transport

Read the following text and lean new verbs related to driving in bold:

I’ve just finished my driving test and I think it went quite well. OK, so I made a few mistakes, but
nothing too serious. For example, I forgot to adjust the mirrors, with the result that I couldn’t see
anything behind me. Then, when I started up the car, I forgot that I had left it in first gear, so I stalled.
Oh, and I forgot to fasten my seatbelt. And release the handbrake. When I eventually pulled away from
the side of the road, I forgot to check my mirrors; the driver of the car that almost crashed into me as a
result sounded his horn and shouted something at me, but I didn’t hear what. I nearly went through a
red light, but saw it at the last second and tried to stop. Unfortunately, I lost control and my
car skidded across to  the other side of the road – fortunately, the cars coming in the opposite direction
managed to swerve out of the way. At one point, I accelerated when I should have braked, so instead
of stopping, the car just went faster! Fortunately, the police car that I smashed into the back of wasn’t
badly damaged and the policeman driving it didn’t shout at me too loudly. At another time I had
to overtake somebody who was driving a bit slowly, but I forgot to indicate, so the drivers behind me
had no idea what I was going to do. Finally, I managed to reverse into a wall which I couldn’t see behind
me. I don’t know if I’ve passed yet, because the examiner is still being treated for shock in the local
hospital.

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 B2 COURSE
Unit 48 - Vehicles & Transport

Read the following text and learn new idioms, colloquialisms and expressions about driving in bold.
Make sure you use a dictionary to understand them correctly! :

My brother Ted must be the world’s worst driver. It started when he was young and used to go
for joyrides, causing pile-ups which resulted in traffic jams and gridlocks for other drivers. As a
young adult, he was a real boy racer, putting his foot down, driving like the clappers and
then jamming on the brakes. I reckon he must have written off at least six of the bangers he used to
drive. He’s still a real road hog, tailgating other cars and getting involved in road rage incidents. He’s
offered to give me a lift home tonight, but to be honest, I’d rather thumb a lift. He’s picking me up in
a few minutes; maybe I’d better have one for the road. At least it’s rush hour and the roads will
be chock-a-block so he won’t be able to drive too fast! Honestly – sometimes he drives me round
the bend!

Watch the following video to learn about the evolution of transport throughout the years and all the
different means of transport that we use!

VIDEO - British English Vocabulary of Transport 2