English course

Lesson 100 of 240

New here? This is lesson 100 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Hail a taxi in English

The Divvy near downtown will not unlock. Ana needs a ride home to Logan Square, so she hails a taxi.

Murray tries the back seat, but a yak needs more space than that.

You will tell the driver where to go, ask how long it takes, and ask what it costs.

You will also ask for a quick stop and the fastest way.

By the end of this lesson

Tell a taxi driver where to go, ask how long it takes, and ask what it costs.

  • Can you take me to ___?You tell the driver the place you want.
  • I'm going to Logan Square.You say your neighborhood as the destination.
  • How long will it take?Ask the number of minutes for the ride.
  • How much will it cost?Ask the price of the ride.
  • Can you stop here, please?Ask the driver to pull over now.
  • Please take the fastest route.Ask for the quickest way, not a long one.

Scene — a taxi downtown

Ana stands at a Divvy dock near downtown. The bike stays locked. A yellow taxi slows down by the curb.

Murray waits with her, peacoat pockets full, and looks at the back seat like it might fit him.

Logan Square is a cab ride away. The Blue Plate can wait until she gets there.

Ana waits beside a locked bicycle at a downtown bike dock as a yellow taxi slows at the curb and Murray peers toward its back seat.

Learn — where to go

Six lines help you talk to a taxi driver. You name the place, then you ask about time and money.

You also learn how to stop and how to ask for a fast way.

  1. Ana leans toward the taxi driver at the open rear door to request a ride to a place.

    Can you take me to ___?

    You tell the driver the place you want.

    When to use it: Say this in a taxi to name your place.

    Put the place name in the blank after to.

  2. From behind the driver, Ana indicates her neighborhood as the destination while Murray waits outside beside the open rear door.

    I'm going to Logan Square.

    You say your neighborhood as the destination.

    When to use it: Say this to name your neighborhood as the place.

    I'm is a contraction, so learn it as one piece.

    Say it: The stress is on Logan, then Square.

  3. Ana turns toward the driver with a questioning expression to ask how many minutes the ride will take.

    How long will it take?

    Ask the number of minutes for the ride.

    When to use it: Ask this to learn the minutes for the ride.

    Will talks about the ride that is still coming.

    Say it: Will can sound short before it.

  4. Ana holds an open palm toward the driver while asking what the ride will cost.

    How much will it cost?

    Ask the price of the ride.

    When to use it: Ask this to learn the price of the ride.

    This asks about money, not about minutes.

  5. In profile inside the taxi, Ana points along the boulevard while asking the driver to take the quickest way.

    Can you stop here, please?

    Ask the driver to pull over now.

    When to use it: Say this when you want to get out now.

    Please makes this request polite.

  6. At the Logan Square corner, Ana signals the driver to pull over beside a diner.

    Please take the fastest route.

    Ask for the quickest way, not a long one.

    When to use it: Say this when you want the quickest route.

    Fastest means the way with the least time.

    Say it: The stress is on fast in fastest.

Story — murray waits

Watch Ana hail a taxi after the Divvy fails. Murray tries the back seat, then he waits.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The Divvy stays locked near downtown. A taxi slows by the curb.
  2. AnaExcuse me.you say this to get someone's attention
  3. DriverYeah? Where to?He asks where she wants to go.
  4. AnaThe bike will not take me to Logan Square.She talks about the Divvy in too many words.
  5. DriverJust say the place.He wants a short answer, not extra details.
  6. AnaCan you take me to Logan Square?You tell the driver the place you want.
  7. Murray opens the back door. His horns do not fit.
  8. MurrayI'm going to Logan Square.You say your neighborhood as the destination.
  9. DriverI don't think you'll fit.The yak is too big for that seat.
  10. MurrayBe right there.He says he is coming, but he waits outside.
  11. Murray steps back onto the sidewalk to wait.
  12. AnaHow long will it take?Ask the number of minutes for the ride.
  13. DriverWell, about twenty minutes.The ride is not very long.
  14. AnaHow much will it cost?Ask the price of the ride.
  15. DriverAround twenty dollars.He gives a price before they go.
  16. AnaPlease take the fastest route.Ask for the quickest way, not a long one.
  17. They reach Logan Square. Ana sees the diner on the corner.
  18. AnaCan you stop here, please?Ask the driver to pull over now.
  19. DriverYou got it.He agrees to stop.

Practice — time and money

Ten short exercises wait here. You will listen, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Can you take me to ___?Drop the Simple English here
    How long will it take?Drop the Simple English here
    How much will it cost?Drop the Simple English here
    Can you stop here, please?Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You get in a taxi. You need to go to the farmers market. The driver waits.

  4. What does it mean?

    How long will it take?

  5. Fill the gap

    Ask the price of the ride.

    How ____ will it cost?

  6. Build the line

    Ask for the quickest way, not a long one.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Driver says:

    The diner is on your right.

    He tells you the diner is next to you.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You are in the taxi. You want to know the minutes.

    How ____ will it take?

  9. True or false?

    This line names the place for the taxi driver.

  10. What do you say?

    You stand at the diner counter. You want the price of a coffee.

Say it — tell the driver

Now you're Ana in the taxi. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DriverWhere to?He asks where she wants to go.
  2. Ana (you)Name your neighborhood as the place.

    I'm going to Logan Square.

    You say your neighborhood as the destination.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Can you take me to ___?You tell the driver the place you want.
I'm going to Logan Square.You say your neighborhood as the destination.
How long will it take?Ask the number of minutes for the ride.
How much will it cost?Ask the price of the ride.
Can you stop here, please?Ask the driver to pull over now.
Please take the fastest route.Ask for the quickest way, not a long one.
Next: lesson 101Left something in the car

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these taxi lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps these taxi lines ready for the curb.

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