#20 Talking About Traffic and Road Conditions｜English Expressions for Getting Around
Izumi English Morning
#26 Taking a Taxi｜English Travel Conversation
Izumi
Taxis are a convenient means of transportation when traveling, especially when carrying large luggage or when you wish to save time.
Being able to tell the driver your destination and discuss the fare or route in English will help you travel more confidently.
In this lesson, I explain commonly used English expressions when taking a taxi and key points to help the conversation go smoothly.
Contents
Dialogue
Excuse me, can you take me to Central Station, please?
Sure. Would you prefer the highway or the city route?
Which one is faster?
The highway is usually quicker unless there’s traffic.
Okay, let’s take the highway then.
No problem. It should take about 20 minutes and cost around 25 dollars.
1. Telling the Driver Your Destination
“Can you take me to ～?” is the basic phrase used when telling a taxi driver where you would like to go.
- Can you take me to Central Station, please?
Whether or not to add “the” before a place name depends on whether the noun is proper or common.
- the airport, the hotel（common nouns）
→ require “the” - Central Station, Shinjuku（proper nouns）
→ no article required
2. Asking About Preferred Routes
“Would you prefer ～?” is a polite way to ask which option someone prefers. This is useful when presenting choices.
- Would you prefer the highway or the city route?
The verb prefer means “to favor one thing over another.” Using would softens the tone, making it sound polite.
- Would you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?
- Would you prefer cash or card?
3. Asking Which Option Is Better
Comparative expressions are frequently used when choosing a route.
- Which one is faster?
This structure—“Which one + comparative”—is also useful in other contexts:
- Which one is cheaper?
4. Talking About Travel Time
To explain how long it will take to reach your destination, you can use: “It should take ～.”
- It should take about 20 minutes.
Using should expresses a soft estimation, making the statement sound more polite.
- It should take about 30 minutes without traffic.
- It should take less than 10 minutes.
Adding about or around makes the expression more natural.
5. Asking About Fares
Confirming fares is essential when traveling, whether using taxis, buses, or tours.
The basic phrase is:
- How much is it?
Other useful expressions include:
- How much will the ride cost?
- How much do I owe you?
- How much is it per person?
The phrase “per person” is especially common when confirming tour prices.
Summary
- I’d like to book ～
→ A polite and convenient expression meaning “I would like to make a reservation.” - Would you prefer ～?
→ A polite way to ask for someone’s choice. - What time does it start? / It lasts ～
→ Useful expressions for confirming start times and duration. - How much is it per person?
→ A basic phrase for asking the price per person.
