Learn French: Est-ce que vous prenez l'avion ?

Est-ce que is a common phrase used to turn a regular statement into a yes/no question. If you take the statement vous prenez l'avion (you are taking the plane) and put Est-ce que at the very beginning, it instantly makes it a question. It doesn't translate word-for-word into English here, but it works just like adding 'Do you' or 'Are you' to the start of a sentence.

The English translation says 'Are you taking', but where is the 'are' and the '-ing' in French?

French doesn't have a separate verb tense for actions happening right now (like 'are taking'). The single present tense verb prenez covers both 'you take' and 'you are taking'. You just figure out which one sounds best in English based on what makes sense in the context!

Is it common to use the verb prendre (to take) with vehicles?

Yes! In French, you use prendre for almost all forms of transportation. Just like in English you might say 'take the bus', in French you use this verb to 'take' the plane (l'avion), the train (le train), the bus (le bus), and even the car (la voiture).

Why is it l'avion instead of le avion?