In this workshop you will practice a short, practical exchange about public transport near an apartment. You will ask whether a metro station or bus stop exists nearby, understand answers about distance, and then recall the exchange with the roles reversed. The recordings give you the exact lines to use, so you can focus on speaking clearly and responding appropriately.
Asking Whether Transport Is Nearby
Start with a polite question. «¿Hay una estación de metro cerca?» means 'Is there a metro station nearby?' The word for metro station is the key noun, and the question asks about existence near the speaker. «¿Hay una parada de autobús cerca del apartamento?» means 'Is there a bus stop near the apartment?' Here the question is more specific: it asks about a bus stop and ties the location to the apartment. Use these two questions when you need to find out what transport options exist close to where you are staying. Speak slowly and clearly, and keep your voice steady so the other person can understand the key nouns.
Understanding Distance Replies
After you ask, you need to understand the answer. «¿Está lejos o cerca?» means 'Is it far or near?' This is a follow-up question you can use if the first answer is not clear. «Está a diez minutos caminando.» means 'It's a ten-minute walk.' This tells you the distance in time on foot, not in blocks or kilometers. When you hear a time expression like this, you know the place is reachable on foot. Listen for the number and the word for walk, and do not confuse it with a driving time. If you hear a different unit, such as blocks, the meaning is still about distance, but the measurement is different.
A Complete Exchange
Now put the questions and answers together. In the recorded exchange, the first speaker asks «Disculpe, ¿hay una estación de metro cerca del apartamento?», which means 'Excuse me, is there a metro station near the apartment?' The second speaker answers «Sí, hay una estación a cinco minutos caminando.», meaning 'Yes, there's a station five minutes away on foot.' The first speaker then asks «¿Y hay parada de autobús cerca?», meaning 'And is there a bus stop nearby?' The second speaker answers «Sí, está a dos cuadras, muy cerca.», meaning 'Yes, it's two blocks away, very close.' Notice the order: question, answer, follow-up question, answer. When you practice, keep this order even if you swap who plays each role. The person asking does not begin with an answer, and the person answering does not begin with a question.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Hay una estación de metro cerca?
Is there a metro station nearby?
¿ai u-na es-ta-SION de ME-tro SER-ka?
¿Hay una parada de autobús cerca del apartamento?
Is there a bus stop near the apartment?
¿ai u-na pa-RA-da de au-to-BUS SER-ka del a-par-ta-MEN-to?
¿Está lejos o cerca?
Is it far or near?
¿es-TA LE-hos o SER-ka?
Está a diez minutos caminando.
It's a ten-minute walk.
es-TA a dies mi-NU-tos ka-mi-NAN-do
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Disculpe, ¿hay una estación de metro cerca del apartamento?
Excuse me, is there a metro station near the apartment?Sí, hay una estación a cinco minutos caminando.
Yes, there's a station five minutes away on foot.¿Y hay parada de autobús cerca?
And is there a bus stop nearby?Sí, está a dos cuadras, muy cerca.
Yes, it's two blocks away, very close.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided Exchange: Ask and Answer
You are standing outside an apartment with a friend. One person asks about transport, and the other answers. Use only the recorded lines.
Your task: Learner A says «Disculpe, ¿hay una estación de metro cerca del apartamento?». Learner B replies with «Sí, hay una estación a cinco minutos caminando.». Learner A then says «¿Y hay parada de autobús cerca?». Learner B replies with «Sí, está a dos cuadras, muy cerca.». Say each line aloud, then switch roles and repeat the same order.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Correct Answer
You hear a question about transport near the apartment. Choose the reply that matches the question and the recorded exchange.
Your task: Question: «Disculpe, ¿hay una estación de metro cerca del apartamento?». Which reply fits? Option A: «Sí, hay una estación a cinco minutos caminando.». Option B: «Sí, está a dos cuadras, muy cerca.». Say the correct option aloud, then explain in English what it means.
Recall With Swapped Roles
You will recall the full exchange from memory, but the person who asked first will now answer first. The chronological order of the four lines stays the same.
Your task: Without looking at the lines, say the four parts of the exchange in order: question about the metro, answer about the metro, question about the bus stop, answer about the bus stop. Then swap who speaks each part and repeat the same order.
Common questions
Can I practice both roles by myself?
Yes. You can play both roles with the audio. Say the first speaker's line, then pause and say the second speaker's line. Use the success criteria to check your own order and pronunciation.
What if I do not understand the distance answer?
Use the follow-up question «¿Está lejos o cerca?», which means 'Is it far or near?' This asks for a simpler distance answer. Listen for a time expression such as the one in «Está a diez minutos caminando.», which means 'It's a ten-minute walk,' or a unit such as blocks in «Sí, está a dos cuadras, muy cerca.».
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask about public transport nearbyChecked September 2026
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