French Phrase
Je prends les transports en commun.
Meaning
Literally, 'I take the transports in common.' In everyday French it means 'I use public transportation'—whether by bus, metro, tram, or train.
When to use
Use this sentence when you talk about your daily commute, explain how you travel in a city, or answer a question about your mode of transport.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jeprendslestransportsencommun
Pronoun "Je"
Subject pronoun for the first person singular; always required in French declarative sentences.
Verb "prendre" (present)
"Prendre" means 'to take'. In the present tense, the first person singular form is "prends".
Definite article "les"
Plural definite article used before a plural noun, here "transports".
Expression "en commun"
A fixed phrase meaning 'together, shared', used after "transports" to indicate public transport.
🗨In Conversation
Comment tu vas au travail chaque jour ?
How do you get to work each day?
Je prends les transports en commun.
I use public transportation.
✕Common Mistakes
Je prends le transport en commun.
Transport is plural here; use "les transports".
Je suis les transports en commun.
The verb "être" (to be) is not used with "transports"; you must use "prendre".
Je prends les transport en commun.
Missing the plural "s" on "transports".
↔Alternatives
J'utilise les transports en commun.
I use public transportation.
Je me déplace en transport en commun.
I get around by public transport.
Je prends le bus/le métro.
I take the bus/the metro.
Cultural Tip
In France, "les transports en commun" includes the métro, bus, tramway, RER and regional trains. Mentioning that you use them often signals an eco‑friendly attitude and can be a conversation starter about city life, especially in Paris where the network is dense and punctuality is prized.