Means of Transportation in English

Transport or transportation is the movement of humans, animals and goods from one location to another.

In other words the action of transportation is defined as a particular movement of an organism or thing from a point A to the Point B. 

Modes of Transport include 

  • Air
  •  Land (rail and road)
  •  Water
  •  Cable
  •  Pipeline 
  •  Space.

Check all that you need to know to make sentences about the means of transportation correctly


Types of Means of Transport

These are the different types of means of transportation with definition and examples

Road Transport

People travelling on the road are either pedestrians, cyclists or they are using a certain type of vehicle, such as automobiles, bicycles, buses, vans or trucks.

Rail transport

This includes all transport over rails. This can be either for passenger or goods transport, and with different modes of transport, such as trains, metro and trams.

Water Transport

Water transport or Ship transport is watercraft carrying people (passengers) or goods (cargo).

Air Transport

Air transport includes all transport through the air. In an urban or regional context this air transport includes local air traffic such as small airplanes or helicopters

Public Transport

Public transport is passenger transport which is publicly available. This can furthermore be distinguished in collective and individual transport.

Examples of collective public transport are transport by buses, tram metro, train and plane.

Means of Transportation Vocabulary List

This a list with the most common Means of Transportation Vocabulary:

FerryRace carCamper 
CarSubwayCatamaran
BikeBoatTrain
TruckScooterTow truck
propeller planeSkateboardCruiser
JeepRocketDelivery truck
MotorcycleSubmarineGlider
Golf cartTaxiGarbage Truck
HelicopterBullet trainKayak 
Hot air  balloonVanYacht
CanoeZeppelinSnowmobile
TrainAmbulanceSailboat
PlaneTankship

Verbs to Talk about Means of Transportation

These are some of the most common verbs to talk about means of transportation in English.

catch I have to catch a bus and I am late
DriveI am going to drive my car to the service stations
RideShe is riding her new motorcycle
Get onI have to get on this bus, I can’t wait any longer
Get offWe will be getting off the train at the next stop
Get in We need to get in the taxi right now
Get outLet’s get out of the car

Dialogue about Means of Transportation

Situation:  Tom is talking to Mary about his trip plan for a week.

Tom: I’m going to Liberia next week.  
Mary: How are you traveling?  
Tom: By plane. It’s more expensive, but it’s the fastest way to get there.
Liberia has a modern international airport.  
Mary: That’s interesting.  Why do you want to go there?  
Tom: Because Liberia has everything:  nice weather, warm people and the most beautiful beaches are very near, around the Papagayo Gulf.  You can go to the beaches by bus or you can rent a car.  
Mary: Where did you get that information?  
Tom: On the Internet.  
Mary: I’m sure you’ll have a great time.  
Tom: I know I will.

Means of Transportation Exercises

Read  each one of  the sentences  and try to guess the mean of transportation that the sentence refers to.

  1. This means of transportation is used to go to space:________
  2. Two examples of two-wheeled vehicles are __________ and __________
  3. This means of transport  is capable of going underwater:_____________
  4. This means of transport is used exclusively to transport injured people:_________
  5. This is used to move damaged vehicles:__________
  6. This is used to collect municipal solid waste:____________
  7. This is used for winter travel and recreation:____________
  8. It is moved by pushing with one foot while the other remains on the board:_________
  9. an automobile built or modified for racing:__________
  10. Vehicles  specialized to deliver different types of goods:__________
  11. A small vehicle created to carry golfers:___________
  12. Vehicle that provides both transport and sleeping accommodation:____________
  13. Vehicle for hire with a driver:_________
  14. armored fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat:___________
  15. this aircraft is capable of moving vertically and horizontally:________

Interested in Learning More English?

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Manuel Campos, English Professor

Manuel Campos

I am Jose Manuel, English professor and creator of EnglishPost.org, a blog whose mission is to share lessons for those who want to learn and improve their English