要用英语在一个国家四处出行,只需要一小组名词,再加上一条关于介词用法的规则——值得牢牢记住。
by、on 还是 in?
by + 交通工具——不加冠词,泛指出行方式:
I go to work by bus / by train / by car / by bike / by plane.
例外:on foot(不说 by foot)。
on / in + 具体的交通工具:
I'm on the bus. · She's on the train.(车厢里可以走动)
He's in the car. · We're in a taxi.(坐在里面)
大致的规则是:大型公共交通工具用 on,小型私人交通工具用 in。
上车和下车
介词要保持一致:
get on / get off the bus, the train, the plane
get in / get out of the car, the taxi
Catch、miss 和 take
这三个动词承担了主要的表达工作,而且彼此不能互换:
- catch——赶上:I need to catch the 8:15.
- miss——没赶上:I missed the last bus.
- take——把它当作出行方式:We took a taxi.
- board——正式的广播用语:Flight BA219 is now boarding.
相关词汇
火车: platform, ticket, single, return, timetable, change (at), delay, carriage, season ticket 公路: bus stop, coach(长途大巴), traffic, rush hour, petrol(美式:gas), motorway, fare 飞机: gate, boarding pass, check-in, luggage, hand luggage, departures, arrivals, delayed, cancelled
支付车费: 票价是 fare(而 ticket 指的是你手里拿着的那张票)。市内交通的卡通常要 top up(充值),进出闸机时要 tap in 和 tap out。
买票
- A single to York, please.(单程)
- A return, please.(往返)
- What time's the next train?
- Which platform is it?
- Do I have to change? —— Yes, change at Reading.
如何听懂广播
车站广播使用的是一套固定且相当正式的用语,和上面的日常对话完全不同。下面这四句几乎涵盖了大部分内容:
| 你会听到 | 意思是 |
|---|---|
| The train now standing at platform 4… | 此刻正停在站台上的这趟列车 |
| …is due to depart at 14:30. | 按时刻表将于该时间出发 |
| We apologise for the delay to this service. | 这趟列车晚点了 |
| A replacement bus service is in operation. | 没有列车了,改用巴士接驳 |
还有一些常见说法:terminates at(到此为终点站,不再往前开)、calling at(途经并停靠)、alight(下车)。
出租车
- Could you take me to this address?
- How much will it cost?
- Can you drop me here?
- Keep the change.
出问题的时候
- The train is delayed by twenty minutes.
- The flight has been cancelled.
- I've missed my connection.
- Is there a later one?
以及在事情不顺利时用来求助的说法:
- Excuse me, is this the right platform for Leeds?
- Sorry, I think I'm on the wrong train.
- What should I do — my connection's been cancelled.
说出你的目的地,而不是你的诉求。 A single to York, please 这句话在全国任何一个售票窗口都管用。恰恰是在压力之下试图拼出一个完整句子的念头,才让买票这件事变得比它本该有的更难。
在车站遇到了问题
A: Excuse me — is the 8:15 to Leeds still running?
B: It's been cancelled, I'm afraid. There's a replacement bus from stand C.
A: Do I have to change?
B: Yes, change at Doncaster. Your ticket's still valid.
取消行程、接驳、换乘,以及关于车票的确认——这四件事是真正需要弄明白的。
自测
下面的测验主要考查介词。