By Bus, On Foot, In My Car

← Grammar Hub
A1On my own or with a tutor

By Bus, On Foot, In My Car

In this lesson, you can say how you travel with by bus or by car.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Name two ways to travel.

See one possible response

By bus and on foot.

You and a friend are meeting at a sports centre. You explain your journeys and where you are now.

What you will practise
  • Say how you travel with by bus or by car.
  • Talk about a method or one particular vehicle.
  • Say where you are now.

Say your answer. Then check the model. Your answer can be different if it fits the task.

How do you travel?

Use by with a type of transport: by bus, by train, by car, by bike. Do not add a or the in this pattern. Ask How do you get to work? The answer describes the journey, not your seat.

I get to the sports centre by bus.

We travel by train on Saturdays.

The two adults travel by bus, shown preparing to board the open doorway of a recognisable isolated bus section, carrying a transport pass and compact work bags. Retain only the essential bus section on white, no road, city or station scenery.
I travel by bus.This transport-method phrase has no article.

Walking and particular vehicles

Say on foot for walking. With a particular car or taxi, use in: in my car, in a taxi. In my car identifies the car; by car simply names the transport method. Both can describe a journey.

I go to the pool on foot.

We go to the match in my brother’s car.

Where are you now?

Use on the bus or on the train to say where you are. Use in the car or in a taxi. Keep the article or possessive here. I’m on the bus is a location; I travel by bus is a method.

I’m on the bus now.

My sister is in a taxi.

The same adults are seated on that particular bus, with only two bus seats, a grab rail and a partial window as essential vehicle objects. White through and around the window, no outdoor panorama. Show their current location rather than a generic transport symbol.
I’m on the bus.This identifies a particular vehicle as your location.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. I go to work ___ bike.

Compare a model and explanation

by

By bike names the method without an article.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. We travel by the train every week. Say only the method.

Compare a model and explanation

We travel by train every week.

Remove the article in this by pattern.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. You walk. Do you go on foot or by foot?

Compare a model and explanation

On foot.

This is the usual expression for walking.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. car / in / We / my / go

Compare a model and explanation

We go in my car.

My car identifies a particular vehicle.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. Where are you? You are sitting on a bus.

Compare a model and explanation

I’m on the bus.

This question asks for your location now.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. I travel by car. I travel in my car. Which sentence identifies the car?

Compare a model and explanation

I travel in my car.

The possessive identifies whose car it is.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. My parents are ___ a taxi now.

Compare a model and explanation

in

Use in with a taxi.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. You usually walk to work. Today you are on a bus. Say both.

Compare a model and explanation

I usually go to work on foot. Today I’m on the bus.

The first sentence gives a method; the second gives a current location.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Friend: How do you get to the sports centre?

You: Usually on foot, but today I’m on the bus.

Friend: I’m in my car. Are you near the centre?

You: Yes. I’m near the centre now.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. How does the speaker travel?
Read the listening transcript

I go to college by bike. My brother goes by bus.

2. Where is the speaker now?
Read the listening transcript

I’m in a taxi now. I’m near the station.

3. What is different today?
Read the listening transcript

We usually travel by train. Today we’re going in Sara’s car.

Answer key with explanations

  1. How does the speaker travel?

    By bike.: The first sentence gives the speaker’s method.

    Compare all choices
    • By bike.: The first sentence gives the speaker’s method.
    • On foot.: The speaker uses a bike, not walking.
    • By bus.: That is the brother’s method.

  2. Where is the speaker now?

    In a taxi.: The speaker explicitly gives this location.

    Compare all choices
    • On a train.: The station is nearby, but the speaker is not on a train.
    • In a taxi.: The speaker explicitly gives this location.
    • At home.: Home is not the location in the message.

  3. What is different today?

    They are using Sara’s car.: Today’s journey is in a particular car.

    Compare all choices
    • They are on their usual train.: The train is usual, not today’s choice.
    • They are walking.: No walking journey is mentioned.
    • They are using Sara’s car.: Today’s journey is in a particular car.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Choose the method phrase: I travel ___ bus.
2. You walk to the shop. Choose the usual phrase.
3. Choose the sentence about one particular car.
4. You are sitting inside a taxi. Where are you?
5. Which question asks about a travel method?
6. Complete the location: I’m ___ the train.
7. Which sentence names a method without identifying a car?
8. Choose the complete message.
Answer key with explanations

  1. Choose the method phrase: I travel ___ bus.

    by: By bus has no article in this use.

    Compare all choices
    • on foot: On foot means walking, not travelling by bus.
    • by a: Do not add an article when by simply names the method.
    • by: By bus has no article in this use.

  2. You walk to the shop. Choose the usual phrase.

    I go on foot.: On foot describes walking.

    Compare all choices
    • I go on foot.: On foot describes walking.
    • I go by foot.: The usual phrase is on foot.
    • I go in foot.: In does not form this expression.

  3. Choose the sentence about one particular car.

    We travel in Ben’s car.: The possessive identifies the car.

    Compare all choices
    • We travel on Ben’s car.: On would not describe sitting inside an ordinary car.
    • We travel in Ben’s car.: The possessive identifies the car.
    • We travel by Ben’s car.: Use in for travelling inside this particular car.

  4. You are sitting inside a taxi. Where are you?

    I’m in a taxi.: In is the usual choice with a taxi.

    Compare all choices
    • I’m by taxi now.: By taxi describes a travel method, not where you are sitting.
    • I’m on a taxi.: Use in for sitting inside a taxi in the target pattern.
    • I’m in a taxi.: In is the usual choice with a taxi.

  5. Which question asks about a travel method?

    How do you get to work?: How asks about the method of this journey.

    Compare all choices
    • How do you get to work?: How asks about the method of this journey.
    • How far is work from here?: This asks about distance, not the method of travel.
    • What time is work?: This concerns time, not the method.

  6. Complete the location: I’m ___ the train.

    on: On the train gives a passenger’s location.

    Compare all choices
    • by: By train names a method and does not use the here.
    • on: On the train gives a passenger’s location.
    • to: To gives a destination, not your position on the train.

  7. Which sentence names a method without identifying a car?

    I travel by car.: This names the type of transport only.

    Compare all choices
    • My car is blue.: This describes the car, not how you travel.
    • I’m in my car.: This identifies your car and gives your location.
    • I travel by car.: This names the type of transport only.

  8. Choose the complete message.

    I usually go by bus, but today I’m in a taxi.: Both method and current-location phrases are correctly formed.

    Compare all choices
    • I usually go by bus, but today I’m in a taxi.: Both method and current-location phrases are correctly formed.
    • I usually go by the bus, but today I’m by a taxi.: The by method phrase should omit the article; use in for the current taxi location.
    • I usually go in bus, but today I’m in a taxi.: The first phrase needs by bus for the general method.

Use it in your own words

Your journey

Say how you travel to two places. Give two different methods.

Reveal a possible response

I go to work by bus. I go to the shops on foot.

  • Name two destinations
  • Use a clear method for each

Use your real journeys or invented ones.

Where are we?

You and a friend send location messages. You are on a bus; your friend is in a car. Say both messages.

Reveal a possible response

I’m on the bus. My friend is in her car.

  • Use on with bus
  • Use in with car

Change the person or vehicle while keeping the location pattern.

Put it all together

A visitor asks about getting from a hotel to a museum. Explain your usual method, suggest using your car today, and say where you are now.

Reveal a possible response

I usually go to the museum on foot. Today we can go in my car. I’m in the car now.

  • Separate usual method from today’s plan
  • Identify the car
  • Give your current location

Different destinations and suitable transport choices are welcome.

Take it with you

Use by with a transport method and no article. Use in for a particular car or taxi and on for a bus or train.