Casa ESL · A2 Elementary · Unit 12 of 20 · Step 1
Journeys & Getting Around
Name
Date
Vocabulary
platform
nounThe raised area at a train station where passengers board.
"The train to Berlin departs from platform four."
departure
nounThe action of leaving a place.
"What is the departure time for the flight?"
arrival
nounThe act of coming to or reaching a place.
"The arrival board shows a thirty-minute delay."
connection
nounA second flight or train that connects with the first.
"I missed my connection in Amsterdam."
luggage
nounBags and suitcases you take when travelling.
"Please do not leave your luggage unattended."
boarding
nounThe process of getting onto a plane, train, or bus.
"Boarding begins forty-five minutes before departure."
delay
nounWhen something starts or arrives later than planned.
"There is a one-hour delay due to bad weather."
ticket
nounA card or piece of paper that shows you paid to travel.
"I have a return ticket from London to Paris."
Grammar Focus
Present continuous — actions happening right now
Use am/is/are + verb + -ing for actions happening at this exact moment. Contrast with present simple (habits). Some verbs are not usually used in continuous form: know, like, understand, need, want.
I am sitting on the train — it is leaving the station now.
She is not waiting at the gate — she is buying a coffee.
Are you travelling with any checked luggage?
He usually flies business class but today he is sitting in economy.
Exercises
Exercise 1
Complete each sentence using the present continuous form of the verb in brackets.
1. The passengers (board) the aircraft right now.
2. I (not sit) by the window — I moved seats.
3. the train (stop) at every station?
4. She (read) her book and (listen) to music.
5. We (not travel) first class on this trip.
Exercise 2
Choose present simple or present continuous.
1. He usually ___ the express train but today he ___ the local.
2. I can't talk now — I ___ through a tunnel.
3. Flights from here ___ at 6 a.m. every day.
Reading
Delayed in Vienna
I am sitting in Vienna airport right now and my flight is delayed by two hours. The departure board is showing a new time of 19:40. Around me, people are reading, sleeping, or looking at their phones. A family near me is eating sandwiches and their children are running between the seats. I am drinking terrible coffee and writing this message to you. My connection in Prague is almost certainly missed. I am already looking at other options on my phone. Travel is rarely this stressful, but today is an exception.
1. Why is the writer sitting in the airport?
2. What is the writer doing while waiting?
Speaking
Discuss these questions with a partner or your teacher.
Writing
Imagine you are in a train station or airport. Write 4–6 sentences about what you and the people around you are doing right now. Use present continuous.
Example: I am standing on the platform waiting for the 9:15 train. Two businessmen next to me are checking their phones. A woman across from me is feeding a baby. The announcement board is showing a five-minute delay. I am listening to a podcast to pass the time.
Answer Key — For Teacher Use
Exercise 1
1. are boarding · 2. am not sitting · 3. Is / stopping · 4. is reading / listening · 5. are not travelling
Exercise 2
1. takes / is taking · 2. am going · 3. leave
Reading Comprehension
1. Their flight is delayed by two hours. · 2. They are drinking coffee and writing a message.