أُفضِّل السفر بـ… · Programme: Means of transport; expressing preferences · Grammar: Comparatives; prefer + to + verb / verb-ing
By the end of this lesson, I can:
- I can name different means of transport.
- I can compare two means of transport: faster than, slower than…
- I can say what I prefer: I prefer to travel by… / I prefer travelling by…
- I can write about a family trip.
🖼️ Picture dictionary قاموس مصوّر
tap 🔊 to listen📚 كلمات الدرس
12 كلمة من هذا الدرس في القاموس المدرسي: المعنى بالعربية والفرنسية، والنطق، ومثال.
📖 Read: How shall we go to Djerba? أقرأ
The Mansouri family lives in Tunis. In July, they want to spend a week in Djerba. But how can they travel?
In the end, they go by car and take the ferry. On the boat, Omar sees dolphins in the sea. What a nice surprise! Now he says: “I prefer travelling by ship!”
Do you understand? أفهم
Answer in your copybook first, then check.
- Where does the family want to spend a week?
Answer
In Djerba.
- Why does Amira prefer the plane?
Answer
Because it is faster than the car (one hour).
- Why doesn’t Mum want to take the plane?
Answer
Because it is more expensive.
- How do they finally travel?
Answer
By car, and then by ferry.
- What is the surprise on the boat?
Answer
Omar sees dolphins in the sea.
🧩 Grammar القواعد
1. Comparatives compare two things.
- Short adjective + -er than: The plane is faster than the car. The bus is slower than the train.
- Ending in -y: y ➡️ ier: easy ➡️ easier. Big ➡️ bigger.
- Long adjective: more + adjective + than: The train is more comfortable than the car.
2. Prefer: I prefer to travel by train. = I prefer travelling by train. With he / she: She prefers…
We say by car, by plane, by train, by ship… but on foot 🚶.
للمقارنة بين شيئين: صفة قصيرة + er + than، أو more + صفة طويلة + than. للتعبير عن التفضيل: prefer + to + الفعل أو prefer + الفعل مع ing.
Which is faster?
| Adjective | Comparative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| fast | faster than | The plane is faster than the ship. |
| slow | slower than | The bike is slower than the car. |
| cheap | cheaper than | The bus is cheaper than the plane. |
| big | bigger than | A ship is bigger than a boat. |
| comfortable | more comfortable than | The train is more comfortable than the bus. |
| expensive | more expensive than | The plane is more expensive than the train. |
What do you prefer?
| prefer + to + verb | prefer + verb-ing | |
|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | I prefer to travel by train. | I prefer travelling by train. |
| he / she | She prefers to go by bus. | She prefers going by bus. |
I prefer the plane because it’s faster. · He prefers the bike because it’s cheaper and good for the planet 🌍.
💬 Useful expressions عبارات مفيدة
Talking about transport
Comparing and preferring
🔊 Pronunciation النطق
Worked examples أمثلة محلولة
Try first, then read the solution.
Compare: the ship / slow / the plane.
Step-by-step solution
- slow is short ➡️ slow + er.
- Add than.
✓ The ship is slower than the plane.
Compare: the train / comfortable / the bus.
Step-by-step solution
- com-for-ta-ble is long ➡️ more + adjective.
- Add than.
✓ The train is more comfortable than the bus.
Write two sentences: Sami / prefer / go / by bike.
Step-by-step solution
- Sami = he ➡️ prefers.
- prefer + to + verb, or prefer + verb-ing.
✓ Sami prefers to go by bike. / Sami prefers going by bike.
⚠️ Common mistakes أخطاء شائعة
⭐ Remember أحفظ
- Means of transport: plane, train, ship, car, bus, bike, on foot.
- Short adjective + -er than: faster than, slower than, cheaper than.
- Long adjective: more + adjective + than: more comfortable than.
- prefer + to + verb = prefer + verb-ing: I prefer to travel / I prefer travelling.
- by car, by plane, by train… but on foot.
Quick quiz اختبار سريع
4 questions · instant feedback1. The plane is … than the car.
2. The train is … than the bus.
3. Choose the correct sentence.
4. In the text, why can’t the family take the train to Djerba?
✍️ Write: Our family trip أكتب
Write a short paragraph (50–70 words) about a trip with your family. Say where you went, how you travelled and what you preferred.
Steps
- Say where and when you went.
- Say who went with you.
- Say how you travelled (by car, by train…).
- Compare two means of transport.
- Say what you prefer and why.
A model text to compare with (after writing mine)
Last spring, I went to Tozeur with my family. We travelled by train from Tunis to Metlaoui, and then by car. The trip was long, but the train was more comfortable than the bus. I looked at the mountains from the window. In Tozeur, we rode a camel in the desert. It was slower than a car, but it was great fun! I prefer travelling by train because I can read and look outside.
One good example among many: compare, don’t copy.
😊 The lighter side استراحة
Slow and steady wins the race.
I have wheels and I fly, but I am not a bird. What am I?
Answer
A plane.
Why was the train late? — Because it was training for a race!
✅ Exercises تمارين
All exercises →6 exercises on three levels, with new questions every time.
- Choose the right answerTo do
- ClassifyTo do
- Situation 1To do
- Situation 2To do
Practise: I Prefer to Travel by…
True or false, complete, choose, classify and situations: instant correction with explanations.
Got the lesson? Try it yourself
6 exercises · instant correction · new questions every time
Start the exercisesPictures: Twemoji (CC-BY 4.0). Texts, explanations and exercises: Scolaire.tn.