Taking the Bus

Everyday Dialogues

Dialogue Reading
Read the dialogue with your partner a few times. Take
turns being each character. Practice your intonation
and pronunciation. Write down any new words or
phrases in your notebook.

Passenger:

Is this the bus I take to get to the university?

Bus Driver:

No, this is an express bus to the shopping centre.

Passenger:

Oh, sorry. Which bus will get me to the downtown campus?

Bus Driver:

You can take route #3 or #8. Bus #8 is express to the university.

Passenger:

Do you know when the next #8 will get here?

Bus Driver:

Bus #8 arrives at the depot on the hour. Bus #3 comes every fifteen minutes.

Passenger:

Okay, thanks. How much longer does bus #3 take to get to the school?

Bus Driver:

It makes a lot of stops. It takes at least fifty minutes.

Passenger:

Fifteen minutes? Thats quick!

Bus Driver:

No, fifty, as in five-oh.

Passenger:

Oh, sorry. And whats the fare?

Bus Driver:

Two dollars for students. Youll have to show your student ID.

Copyright 2011, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

Taking the Bus

Everyday Dialogues

Practice
Work with your partner. Role-play the dialogue,
substituting the different expressions below. Then reverse roles.

Is this the bus I need to take?

Does this bus go to Main Street?
Does this bus go downtown?
This bus stops at the airport, right?

This is the express bus.

This bus is not in service.
This bus is full.
This bus doesnt take bikes.
This bus makes all regular stops.
This is the airport bus.
This bus goes downtown.

Your bus is coming.

Thats your bus.
That is the bus you need.

It comes on the hour.

It comes every fifteen minutes.
It comes at twenty past the hour.
It comes every few minutes.

How often does it come?

Does it come every fifteen minutes?
How often does it stop here?

How long does it take to get downtown?

How far is it to the downtown core?
When will it reach the downtown stop?
How long is the ride to the city centre?

What is the fare?

How much does it cost?
What is the student fare?
How much is it for a child?

Youll have to show your student card.

Student card, please.
Do you have a student card?
Ill need proof of student status.

When will the next bus arrive?

When is the next #6 due?
How long will it be until another #6 comes?
Did I just miss the #6?

Copyright 2011, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

AskingTaking
for Directions
the Bus
Everyday Dialogues
Dialogues
Everyday

Vocabulary
Match the words or expressions on the left with the correct meaning on the right.

___1. fare

a. the amount of money you pay to ride

___2. ID

b. a place where you wait for or get off the bus

___3. bus stop

c. without regular stops; direct

___4. depot

d. closed for passengers

___5. express

e. the person who rides in the vehicle

___6.out of service

f. identification

___7. route

g. the path the vehicle takes

___8. driver

h. a central place where buses meet

___9. passenger

i. the person who operates the vehicle

Copyright 2011, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

Taking the Bus

Everyday Dialogues

Dialogue Building
Complete the dialogue below with appropriate expressions.

Passenger: "

"

Hello. I need to get to the shopping center. Is this the right ________________?

Bus Driver: "

"

No, Im heading to the hospital. You need # 2 or _______________. Bus #7 is

"

"

______________. It goes directly to the shopping center.

Passenger: "

"

Thanks. ____________often does Bus #7 stop here?"

Bus Driver: "

"

At this time of day it only comes __________ an _________. "

"

"

in about twenty minutes.

Passenger: "

"

Okay, thanks. How much is the _____________ for a student? " "

Bus Driver: "

"

Its ______________. Youll need to show your __________. If you dont have your ID its

"

"

another quarter. "

Passenger: "

"

Too bad. I dont have my ID on me. "

Bus Driver: "

"

Theres a #2 coming up behind me. Its not express, but it will get you to the

"

"

___________________________________________________.

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

One should be coming

"

Copyright 2011, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

Taking the Bus

Everyday Dialogues

Write Your Own Dialogue

Write a dialogue with a partner, using phrases from pg. 2. Practice and present the dialogue to your class.

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Copyright 2011, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

Taking the Bus

Everyday Dialogues

Answers: Fill in the blanks

Passenger: "

Hello. I need to get to the shopping center. Is this the right bus?

Bus Driver: ""

No, Im heading to the hospital. You need # 2 or #7. Bus #7 is an express. It goes directly to the shopping center.

Passenger: ""

Thanks. How often does Bus #7 stop here?"

"

Bus Driver: ""

At this time of day it only comes once an hour. "

One should be coming in about twenty minutes.

Passenger: ""

Okay, thanks. How much is the fare for a student? "

Bus Driver: ""

Its $2. Youll need to show your student ID. If you dont have your ID its another quarter. "

Passenger: ""

Too bad. I dont have my ID on me. "

Bus Driver: ""

Theres a #2 coming up behind me. Its not express, but it will get you to the shopping center.

"

"

Answers: Matching

1. a
2. f
3. b
4. h
5. c
6. d
7. g
8. i
9. e

Copyright 2011, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

Copyright 2011, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.