In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. In this series of language tips to accompany the Real Vocabulary theme we look at how you can expand your vocabulary in English by using different words and expressions instead of core vocabulary items.
This set of language tips explores the words and phrases we use to describe movement. This week’s tip looks at verbs that mean to travel using a particular means of transport:
drive to travel by car:
- We usually drive to Italy but this year we’re flying.
- Today I drove into work but I prefer to use public transport.
fly to travel by plane:
- Sometimes it’s cheaper to fly.
- We flew from Amsterdam to London.
- They flew into Heathrow late last night.
cycle to travel by bicycle:
- She generally cycles to school.
- We’re going to spend two weeks cycling round Holland.
- Cycling is fun and good for you.
To ask if someone knows how to use a bicycle, you say Can you ride a bike? not Can you cycle?
ride to sit on a horse, bicycle or motorbike and control it as it moves along:
- a group of children riding ponies
- He rides his bike to school.
If it is not specified what someone is riding, ride usually refers to horses.
sail to travel by boat or ship:
- Sail to Greece aboard the SS Monterey.
- They spent their holiday sailing round the Caribbean.
Did you know that Macmillan Dictionary includes a full thesaurus? This page lists more ways to say ‘to travel in a vehicle‘.
More language tips
Browse the list under the ‘language tips‘ tag here on the blog for more useful language tips.
Would you like to improve your vocabulary? Follow our daily tweets @MacDictionary or visit our Facebook Page.
Email this Post
