Grammar

Do you know what grammar we use to talk about train and bus schedules? Watch a short explanation and repeat the example sentences after me.

When we talk about schedules and timetables, we use the Present Simple. Even if a train leaves in the future, for example later today or tomorrow, we use the Present Simple because the time is fixed. These things usually happen at the same time each day. When we talk about a train or a bus, we refer to it as "it". It is the third person singular, so in positive sentences we add "-s" to the verb. For example: “The train arrives at Harlow Town at 3:30.” In negative sentences, we use “does not” or the short form “doesn’t.” After "does not" or "doesn’t", we do NOT add "-s" to the verb. For example: “The train doesn’t stop at Harlow Town.”

The train arrives at Harlow Town at three thirty

It doesn't stop at Harlow Town

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__ _______ ____ __ ______ ____

Il treno arriva a Harlow Town alle 3:30

Non si ferma a Harlow Town

When we want to ask about a train or bus schedule, we use "does" to make a question in the Present Simple. In Yes / No questions, we put "does" at the beginning of the sentence. For example: "Does the train leave at 1:45?" We can also start the question with "What time" if we want to ask for a specific time. In this case, "does" comes after "what time". For example: "What time does it arrive at Harlow Town?" or "What time does it leave?"

What time does the train arrive at Harlow Town?

What time does it leave?

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A che ora arriva il treno a Harlow Town?

A che ora parte?