Getting across the city by public transport in Italian
Che linea devo prendere per il Colosseo?
“Which line do I take for the Colosseum?”
When: Asking a passerby how to get somewhere
The moment
You are in the lobby of your Rome hotel with one hour before the last entry at the Colosseum. Ask a passerby which transport to take, buy the ticket yourself, then check on the platform that you are heading the right way.
A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around · Checkpoint
This is the unit’s checkpoint: one roleplay that puts the unit’s scenes together.
The lines
Which line do I take?
Open with Scusi, then ask "Che linea devo prendere per il Colosseo?" Devo prendere is the everyday way to ask which metro line, bus or train you need.
Che linea devo prendere per il Colosseo?
“Which line do I take for the Colosseum?”
When to use it: Asking a passerby how to get somewhere
What you’ll hear back: Prenda la linea B, direzione Laurentina. (Take line B, towards Laurentina.)
Am I going the right way?
On the platform, point at the train and ask "Scusi, questo treno va al Colosseo?" One short question saves you twenty minutes in the wrong direction.
Scusi, questo treno va al Colosseo?
“Excuse me, does this train go to the Colosseum?”
When to use it: On the platform, just before you get on
What you’ll hear back: Sì, è questo. (Yes, this is the one.)
Words for this scene
| Italian | Say it | English |
|---|---|---|
| Un biglietto di andata e ritorno, per favore. | oon beel-YET-toh dee an-DAH-tah eh ree-TOR-noh per fah-VOH-reh | A return ticket, please. |
Un biglietto di andata e ritorno per Ostia, per favore. A return ticket to Ostia, please. Tip: Machines at Termini take cards and have an English button. | ||
| A che ora parte il prossimo? | ah keh OH-rah PAR-teh eel PROS-see-moh | What time does the next one leave? |
Ho perso l'autobus. A che ora parte il prossimo? I missed the bus. What time does the next one leave? Tip: Drop the noun once you are both talking about the same thing. | ||
| Al Colosseo, per favore. | ahl koh-lohs-SEH-oh per fah-VOH-reh | To the Colosseum, please. |
Buonasera, al Colosseo, per favore. Good evening, to the Colosseum, please. Tip: Take taxis from an official white rank, never from a tout. | ||
Your objective
Ask a passerby how to get there, buy your ticket, then check with someone on the platform that it’s the right train.
- how to get there
- your ticket
- checking it’s the right train
Lines that get it done
- Che linea devo prendere per il Colosseo?
- Un biglietto di andata e ritorno, per favore. · A return ticket, please.
- Scusi, questo treno va al Colosseo?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You stop someone outside your hotel to find out how to reach the Colosseum. What do you ask?
- Che linea devo prendere per il Colosseo?
- Che biglietto devo prendere per il Colosseo?
- Quanto costa la linea per il Colosseo?
- Che binario c'è al Colosseo?
Show the answer
Che linea devo prendere per il Colosseo?
Linea is the metro or bus line, which is what you need before buying anything.
2. You are on the platform and want to be sure this train goes to the Colosseum. What do you say?
- Scusi, questo treno va al Colosseo?
- Scusi, questo treno parte dal Colosseo?
- Scusi, questo treno è il prossimo?
- Scusi, questo treno è veloce?
Show the answer
Scusi, questo treno va al Colosseo?
Va a asks where the train is heading; parte da would ask where it comes from.
3. You give up on the metro, jump in a taxi, and have no cash. What do you ask?
- Posso pagare con la carta?
- Posso pagare con il biglietto?
- Vuole pagare con la carta?
- Devo convalidare la carta?
Show the answer
Posso pagare con la carta?
Posso asks about you; vuole would be asking the driver if he wants to pay.