Learn Italian: Arrivano in autobus o in treno? - Do they arrive by bus or by train?

Arrivano in autobus o in treno?

Do they arrive by bus or by train?

Breakdown of Arrivano in autobus o in treno?

il treno

the train

in / made of (material)

l'autobus

bus

Questions & Answers about Arrivano in autobus o in treno?

This lesson teaches question words like come (how). How would I use come with this sentence?

If you didn't know their travel options, you would ask an open-ended question: Come arrivano? (How do they arrive?). But since this sentence asks about a specific choice between a bus or a train, it doesn't need a question word.

Where is the word for "Do" in "Do they arrive"?

Italian doesn't use helper words like "do" or "does" to make a question. You just use the standard verb form, arrivano (they arrive), and make it a question by raising your tone of voice at the end.

Why isn't the word for "they" (loro) used here?

Italian usually drops subject pronouns like loro (they) because the verb ending already tells you who is doing the action. The -ano ending in arrivano only goes with "they".

Why does the sentence use in for "by" bus or train?

When talking about a main means of transportation, Italian uses the preposition in. This is why "by bus" translates to in autobus and "by train" translates to in treno.