take a bus

Meaning

This phrase means to travel using a bus. It is the most common and natural way to talk about using public bus transportation, rather than saying 'go by bus' or 'ride a bus' in casual conversation.

Examples

• I usually take a bus to work because parking is too expensive.

  I usually take a bus to work because parking is too expensive.

• We need to take a bus to get to the museum from here.

  We need to take a bus to get to the museum from here.

• Did you take a bus or did you walk to the station?

  Did you take a bus or did you walk to the station?

• She prefers to take a bus so she can read during her commute.

  She prefers to take a bus so she can read during her commute.

• Let's take a bus; it's starting to rain quite hard.

  Let's take a bus; it's starting to rain quite hard.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I went to school with the bus.

  ✓ I took a bus to school.

  Learners often translate literally from their native languages using 'with'. In English, we 'take a bus' or travel 'by bus'.

• ✗ I lost the bus this morning.

  ✓ I missed the bus this morning.

  If you arrive late and the bus has already departed, you 'miss' it. You only 'lose' physical objects like keys or wallets.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It's too far to walk, so we should ___ to the mall.

  💡 Use the verb 'take' and the transport 'a bus'.

  Show answer

  take a bus

• Do you usually ___ or drive your car to school?

  💡 Use public transit.

  Show answer

  take a bus