Everyday English · Read, listen and speak
Taking a Taxi
Give a destination, ask about the fare and journey time, and agree on a clear drop-off point.
Your speaking goal
Explain where you want to go and confirm the destination, estimated fare and drop-off point.
Before you start: Choose an imaginary hotel or building and a specific entrance. Do not use a real home address.
Your six-step practice plan
- Understand: Read the goal and check the useful phrases.
- Listen or read: Follow both roles. Audio is optional.
- Repeat: Say one short line at a time, then join the words smoothly.
- Change details: Replace two details with imaginary ones.
- Role-play: Read the other person’s question, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles.
- Review: Use the “I can” checks below. Repeat any part that still needs help.
Work at your own pace. A clear message matters more than copying a particular accent.
Listen, read and notice
Roles: Passenger and Driver
Browser-generated English voice; availability and sound vary by device. Use the written dialogue if audio is unavailable.
Passenger: Hello. Could you take me to the Riverside Museum, please?
Driver: Of course. The one on Willow Road?
Passenger: Yes, that’s right. Do you know roughly how much it will cost?
Driver: The estimate for this trip is about twelve pounds. The final fare will be shown on the meter.
Passenger: Thank you. About how long will it take?
Driver: Around fifteen minutes, depending on traffic.
Passenger: Could you drop me off near the main entrance?
Driver: Yes, if there’s a safe place to stop there.
Passenger: That would be helpful. Thank you.
Driver: We’re here. The meter shows thirteen pounds.
Passenger: Can I pay by card?
Driver: Yes. Here’s the card machine. Would you like a receipt?
Passenger: Yes, please.
Useful phrases and what they do
- Could you take me to ___? — Tell a driver your destination.
- Roughly how much will it cost? — Ask for an approximate fare.
- How long will it take? — Ask about the expected journey time.
- Could you drop me off near ___? — Request a particular place to leave the vehicle.
Say it clearly
Say the destination and street separately: ‘Riverside Museum / on Willow Road’. Make ‘twelve’ and ‘thirteen’ clear when discussing the estimate and final fare.
Build your own replies
Could you take me to ___? → Do you mean the one on ___?
Ask and check
Do you mean the main entrance or the side entrance? → The main entrance, please.
Common mistakes and alternatives
An estimate is approximate; it may differ from the final fare. ‘Drop me off’ is natural; with a pronoun, do not say ‘drop off me’. The route, fare, meter and payment arrangements are fictional examples, not universal taxi policies.
Check what you understood
Answer aloud before revealing each explanation. Natural replies with the same meaning also count.
Question 1
How does the driver check the destination?
Show answer 1 and explanation
By asking whether the passenger means the museum on Willow Road. This helps distinguish places with similar names.
Question 2
Why is the final fare different from the first amount mentioned?
Show answer 2 and explanation
The first amount was an estimate of about twelve pounds. The meter shows thirteen pounds at the end of this fictional trip.
Question 3
Does the driver promise to stop anywhere the passenger requests?
Show answer 3 and explanation
No. The driver says the requested drop-off depends on there being a safe place to stop. The passenger can agree on a nearby alternative if needed.
Your turn: make it a real exchange
Practise alone: read the other person’s line, cover your reply and answer aloud. Then swap roles. No partner is needed.
Role A
Give a fictional destination, ask about the estimated fare and journey time, and request a clear drop-off point.
Role B
Confirm the destination, explain an example fare arrangement and discuss a suitable place to stop.
Make it easier: Keep the model visible and change one detail at a time.
Add a challenge: There is no suitable stopping place at the main entrance. Agree on a nearby drop-off point and confirm which entrance it is near.
Ready to move on?
Try again with less reading. Use these checks and repeat any part that needs more practice.
- I can give and confirm a destination.
- I can ask about approximate cost and journey time.
- I can agree on a clear drop-off point.