Getting to School (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Getting to school
Learning to talk about how you get to school is essential for everyday conversations in Spanish. You'll use these phrases regularly when meeting new friends or discussing your daily routine.
Transport methods
Here are the main ways to say how you travel to school:
| Spanish | English | Article + noun |
|---|---|---|
| a pie | on foot | - |
| en bicicleta | by bike | la bicicleta |
| en coche | by car | el coche |
| en autobús | by bus | el autobús |
| en tren | by train | el tren |
Most transport methods in Spanish follow a consistent pattern, but there's one important exception you need to memorise.
Critical Grammar Pattern
Notice that most transport methods use en (in/by), but walking uses a pie (on foot). This is a fixed expression that you must memorise - never say "en pie"!
Example sentences
Understanding these transport methods becomes clearer when you see them in context:
Practice Sentences with Translations
Spanish sentences:
- Voy al colegio a pie.
- María va en autobús todos los días.
- Los miércoles vamos en coche.
- ¿Vas en bicicleta o en tren?
English translations:
- I go to school on foot.
- María goes by bus every day.
- On Wednesdays we go by car.
- Do you go by bike or by train?
Grammar Spotlight
The verb ir (to go) changes its form: yo voy, tú vas, él/ella va, nosotros vamos. Remember to use al (to the) before colegio because it combines a + el.
Essential school vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with these fundamental school-related terms:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el colegio | school |
| el instituto | secondary school |
| la clase | class/classroom |
| el/la estudiante | student |
| el recreo | break |
| los deberes | homework |
| el horario | timetable |
Expressing preferences
When talking about transport preferences, use these useful phrases:
- Me gusta ir en... (I like going by...)
- Prefiero ir en... (I prefer going by...)
- No me gusta ir en... (I don't like going by...)
These expressions will help you sound more natural when discussing your daily routine with Spanish speakers.
Phrase bank
These are practical phrases you'll actually use in real conversations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Cómo vas al colegio? | How do you go to school? |
| Voy al colegio... | I go to school... |
| Es muy cómodo | It's very comfortable |
| Es divertido | It's fun |
| Es aburrido | It's boring |
| La mayoría de los días | Most days |
| Todos los días | Every day |
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Translation Exercise
Spanish to English:
- Los lunes voy al colegio en autobús.
- Prefiero ir en bicicleta porque es divertido.
English to Spanish: 3. I go to school on foot on Fridays. 4. We don't like going by car.
Answers provided at the end of this section
Common Errors and Fixes
These are the most frequent mistakes students make - avoid them!
-
❌ Voy a colegio → ✅ Voy al colegio
Always use "al" (a + el) before masculine nouns like colegio -
❌ en pie → ✅ a pie
"On foot" is always "a pie", never "en pie" -
❌ por autobús → ✅ en autobús
Use "en" with vehicles, not "por"
Grammar micro-focus: shortened adjectives
Advanced Grammar Tip
Some adjectives shorten before masculine singular nouns:
- primer día (first day) - from primero
- tercer curso (third year) - from tercero
- algún día (some day) - from alguno
- ningún problema (no problem) - from ninguno
Mini-task: Choose the correct form:
- El (primer/primero) _______ recreo es a las once.
- Answer: primer
Translation Answers
- On Mondays I go to school by bus.
- I prefer going by bike because it's fun.
- Los viernes voy al colegio a pie.
- No nos gusta ir en coche.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use en with vehicles (bicicleta, coche, autobús, tren) but a pie for walking
- Always say al colegio (not a colegio)
- The verb ir changes: voy, vas, va, vamos
- Me gusta/No me gusta + infinitive to express likes and dislikes
- Some adjectives shorten before masculine singular nouns (primer, tercer, algún, ningún)