Go/Drive/Ride/Take
Just here for the exercises? Click here.How to talk about transport in English
In English, we use the verbs drive, ride, go and take to talk about travel and transport.
Although they all express travel and movement, they are used in different contexts.
Read on to learn when to use drive, ride, go and take in English, then practise in the exercises.
Example
We’re going to Scotland next week.
We’re taking the train from London to Edinburgh.
Then we’re going to rent a car and drive around the Highlands.
My friend will drive because I don’t have my licence yet.
Next year, we want to spend 5 days cycling around the Irish countryside, because we love riding our bikes.
If we get too tired to cycle, we will ride the bus.
Go
If we don’t say how we travelled from one place to another, we use the verb go. This allows us to talk generally about travel.
- Examples:
- We’re going to Scotland next week.
- We want to go to Ireland next year.
Info
Many grammar books teach the construction go by + mode of transport, however this does not always sound natural.
To be more specific, we are more likely to use verbs such as drive, take, cycle etc.
- Examples:
I go to work by train.→ I take the train to work.Are you going to Berlin by car?→ Are you driving to Berlin?
Drive
We mostly use the verb drive to talk about car travel, for both passengers and the person controlling the car.
- Examples:
- We’re going to rent a car and drive around the Highlands.
- My friend will drive because I don’t have my licence yet.
Remember, the word car is implied when we use the word drive, so we do not need to repeat it.
- Example:
- I drive to work every day.
- not:
I drive with my car to work every day.
If we are referring to someone controlling a different type of motor vehicle, such as a train or a bus, we can also use the verb drive. In this case, we usually specify the type of vehicle.
- Examples:
- Chris drives a delivery truck for the post office.
- Pauline drives buses in Manchester.
Take
We use take to talk about public transport.
- Examples:
- We’re taking the train from London to Edinburgh.
- You can take the ferry to the island.
Remember to use an article (the, a, or an) when using take + public transport.
- Example:
- We’re taking the train from London to Edinburgh.
- not:
We’re taking train from London to Edinburgh.
For other uses of the verb take, see our page on take vs. bring.
Ride
Some countries such as the USA also use the verb ride to talk about public transport, or to refer to a passenger in a motor vehicle.
- Examples:
- When we are too tired to cycle, we will ride the bus.
- I like riding in my friend’s car.
The verb ride is also used with bikes, motorbikes and horses.
- Example:
- We love riding our bikes.
However, when talking about a pedal bike, it can be easier to simply use the verb cycle. Here the vehicle is implied.
- Example:
- We want to spend 5 days cycling around the Irish countryside.
- not:
We want to spend 5 days cycling our bikes around the Irish countryside. - When we are too tired to cycle, we will ride the bus.
Other Modes of Transport
The table below presents an overview of the most common verbs and modes of transport.
| Verb | Mode of Transport | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| take |
the bus |
He takes the bus to school. My train was cancelled so I had to take a taxi. |
| ride |
a/your bike |
The kids ride their bikes in the street. I hate riding the subway in the summer. |
| drive |
car* |
I drive to the supermarket on Saturday mornings. Chris has been driving buses since he was 22. |
| fly | a plane* |
We’re flying to the Canary Islands on Tuesday. Patrick flies for a private airline. |
| cycle | bike* | We should all cycle more often, it’s good for the environment. |
| sail | a boat* | In my free time I like to sail. |
*with these verbs, the vehicle is generally implied, which means we don’t need to mention it in the sentence (see the examples).
