The Commute
Todd: Hello, Yoko.
Yoko: Hello, Todd.
Todd: How are you?
Yoko: Good. How are you?
Todd: Good. OK. We're gonna talk about trains.
Yoko: OK.
Todd: Do you take the train everyday?
Yoko: Yes, I have to.
Todd: Oh, really?
Yoko: Yeah, cause I don't have a car.
Todd: Oh, really?
Yoko: Yeah!
Todd: Are you have happy with that? Do you mind?
Yoko: Actually no!
Todd: Yeah, well, what's the train like in the morning when you get on?
Yoko: It's really crowded.
Todd: Yeah!
Yoko: Yes.
Todd: OK. How much is your train fare?
Yoko: Almost 500 yen.
Todd: What's the best thing about taking the train?
Yoko: Mm, nothing.
Todd: Nothing.
Yoko: Nothing. I don't think it's great. Ah, I can sleep on the train.
Todd: OK. Do you normally get a seat?
Yoko: Ah, sometimes I can.
Todd: Yeah.
Yoko: Yeah.
Todd: OK. Do you read?
Yoko: Cause I can't read a book. I'll get sick.
Todd: Oh, cause your eyes move around.
Yoko: Yeah.
Todd: Yeah, I gocha. What's the worse thing about the train?
Yoko: Ah, too crowded in Japan.
Todd: Yeah. It's terrible.
Yoko: And I have to pay.
Todd: Oh, you have to pay. Your company does not pay.
Yoko: No.
take the train
I take the train every day.
When you 'take the train' somewhere you use it to travel from one place to another. Notice the following:
- I used to drive, but now I take the train to work.
- Do you take the train frequently?
mind
Do you mind taking the train every day?
We can ask the question 'Do you mind?' to see if a person hates doing something. Notice the following:
- Do you mind driving long distances?
- He doesn't mind waking up early.
get on
What's the train like in the morning when you get on?
To 'get on' a train is to go inside it to travel. We use this phrasal verb for planes, trains, buses, motorcycles and bicycles. Notice the following:
- Get on my motorcycle, I'll give you a ride home.
- You can get on the plane in fifteen more minutes.
get a seat
Do you normally get a seat?
When there are seats available to sit down it means that you can 'get a seat.' If you don't get a seat you have to stand. Notice the following:
- There were so many people on the bus that I didn't get a seat.
- You have to get to the class early to get a good seat.
get sick
I get sick if I read a book in the train.
If we begin to feel like we are going to vomit or have a headache from doing something then we 'get sick' from doing this action. Notice the following:
- If you eat a lot of chocolate you will get sick.
- If I go on rides at the amusement park I always get sick.
Vocabulary Quiz
get a seat • get sick