11 | Commute Time

Today you will learn 5 new English words related to "Commute Time"

Author

SEWT Team
October 03, 2025

There´s an advanced English lesson waiting for you

“Commute time” is something almost everyone talks about, especially when it comes to work, school, or appointments. As an ESL learner, being able to discuss how long it takes to get somewhere, what transportation you use, or how traffic affects your schedule helps you connect more naturally in everyday conversations. Today’s vocabulary will give you the tools to describe your routine clearly and confidently. Let’s jump right in!

5 TERMS

  1. Rush hour (Noun): The busiest time of day for traffic, usually in the morning and evening when people go to and from work or school.

  2. Traffic jam (Noun): A situation where many vehicles are on the road and movement is very slow or stopped.

  3. Public transportation (Noun): Buses, trains, subways, and other shared systems used to travel around a city or town.

  4. Commute (Verb / Noun): To travel regularly between home and work or school.

  5. Flexible schedule (Noun): A work or school schedule that allows you to choose or adjust your start and end times.

EXAMPLE SENTENCES

  1. Rush hour

    • I try to leave early to avoid rush hour traffic.

    • The subway is packed during rush hour.

    • Rush hour makes my commute twice as long.

  2. Traffic jam

    • We were late because of a traffic jam on the highway.

    • There’s always a traffic jam near the city center at 8 a.m.

    • A small accident caused a major traffic jam this morning.

  3. Public transportation

    • I use public transportation to get to work every day.

    • Public transportation is cheaper than driving.

    • She’s still learning how to use the local public transportation system.

  4. Commute

    • I commute by train every weekday.

    • Her commute takes about 40 minutes each way.

    • He listens to podcasts during his commute.

  5. Flexible schedule

    • With a flexible schedule, I can avoid heavy traffic.

    • My job offers a flexible schedule, so I start after rush hour.

    • A flexible schedule helps reduce stress from commuting.

EXAMPLE PARAGRAPH

My commute to work takes about 45 minutes, and it’s even longer during rush hour. I usually drive, but sometimes I take public transportation when the weather is bad or if there’s construction on the roads. Last week, a huge traffic jam made me late to an important meeting, so I talked to my manager about getting a flexible schedule. Now I can start my day a bit earlier or later, which helps me avoid the worst traffic and makes my mornings feel much less stressful.