Transport (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Transport
Essential transport vocabulary
Understanding transport vocabulary is crucial for discussing travel options and preferences in Spanish. These words form the foundation for describing different ways to get around.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el autobús | bus |
| el avión | plane |
| el barco | boat |
| la bicicleta | bicycle |
| el coche | car |
| la estación | station |
| el metro | metro, underground |
| el kilómetro | kilometre |
| el tren | train |
Example sentences:
- Voy al trabajo en autobús. (I go to work by bus.)
- Mi hermana viaja en avión a España. (My sister travels to Spain by plane.)
Notice that most transport words in Spanish are masculine (el), but la bicicleta and la estación are feminine exceptions that you need to memorise.
Transport actions and descriptions
These verbs and adjectives help you describe transport experiences and make comparisons between different options.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ir a pie | to go on foot |
| caminar | to walk |
| salir | to leave, depart |
| llegar | to arrive |
| durar | to take (time) |
| rápido/a | quick, fast |
| cómodo/a | comfortable |
| barato/a | cheap |
| caro/a | expensive |
| práctico/a | practical |
Example sentences:
- Prefiero caminar al colegio. (I prefer to walk to school.)
- El metro es muy práctico en la ciudad. (The metro is very practical in the city.)
Making comparisons with transport
When comparing different transport options, Spanish uses specific structures to express more than, less than, and as much as.
Comparatives
- más + adjective + que = more ... than
- menos + adjective + que = less ... than
- tan + adjective + como = as ... as
Examples:
- El coche es más rápido que la bicicleta. (The car is faster than the bicycle.)
- El autobús es menos caro que el taxi. (The bus is less expensive than the taxi.)
- El tren es tan barato como el autobús. (The train is as cheap as the bus.)
Superlatives
To say the most or the least, use:
- el/la/los/las + más + adjective
- el/la/los/las + menos + adjective
Examples:
- El tren es el más rápido. (The train is the fastest.)
- Estos billetes son los más baratos. (These tickets are the cheapest.)
Irregular comparatives
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms:
- mejor = better (not más bueno)
- peor = worse (not más malo)
- mayor = older (not más viejo)
- menor = younger (not más joven)
Common Mistake Alert: Never use más bueno or más malo - always use the irregular forms mejor and peor. This is one of the most frequent errors students make in comparative structures.
Reading comprehension practice
Transport surveys are common topics in GCSE Spanish reading exercises. You need to understand key phrases and extract specific information.
Reading Strategy: Transport surveys often follow predictable patterns. Look for ranking words (primer lugar, segundo lugar, último lugar) and opinion markers. These will help you quickly locate the information you need.
Sample text pattern: Survey results typically mention rankings (primer lugar = first place, segundo lugar = second place, último lugar = last place) and give reasons using descriptive adjectives.
Key exam phrases:
- Los vecinos han votado por... (The neighbours have voted for...)
- En primer lugar... (In first place...)
- La gente encuentra... (People find...)
Exam-style listening exercises
Listening exercises often involve completing conversations about transport preferences. Listen for these key patterns:
- Positive opinions: Me gusta viajar en... (I like travelling by...)
- Negative opinions: No me gusta la idea de... (I don't like the idea of...)
- Preferences: Prefiero... (I prefer...)
Exam tip: Pay attention to negatives like no and phrases expressing dislike, as these are crucial for understanding opinions correctly.
Translation practice
Worked Example: Spanish-English Translation
Spanish to English:
-
Es más cómodo viajar en tren. → Step 1: Identify the comparative structure (más...) → Step 2: Translate: It's more comfortable to travel by train.
-
El metro es el transporte más rápido. → Step 1: Identify the superlative (el más...) → Step 2: Translate: The metro is the fastest transport.
English to Spanish:
-
The bus is cheaper than the car. → Step 1: Identify "cheaper than" = más barato que → Step 2: Translate: El autobús es más barato que el coche.
-
I prefer walking to the station. → Step 1: "I prefer" = Prefiero, "walking" = caminar → Step 2: Translate: Prefiero caminar a la estación.
Key Points to Remember:
- Transport vocabulary includes both the vehicle (el coche) and related locations (la estación)
- Comparatives use más...que (more than), menos...que (less than), and tan...como (as...as)
- Superlatives need the definite article: el/la más + adjective
- Irregular forms like mejor and peor don't follow the standard más/menos pattern
- Exam questions often test your ability to identify opinions and compare different transport options