as the bus approaches

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as the bus approaches" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that occurs simultaneously with the bus getting closer. Example: "As the bus approaches, passengers begin to gather at the stop, ready to board."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

As the bus approaches Baltimore for free time, some boys talk about lunching at Hooters.

The New York Times

"As the bus approaches, signal the operator to stop by waving," the newspaper said, amid other nuggets of advice.

The New York Times

As the bus approaches, I thank my lucky stars that I've made it on time and remind myself to set my alarm earlier the next day.

The Guardian

Los Angeles County transportation officials have managed to shave as much as 25percentt off the travel time of a local bus trip by adopting technology that, among things, can keep green lights on just a little longer as the bus approaches -- as long as doing that does not cause another set of traffic problems.

The New York Times - Tech

As soon as the bus approaches the end of your journey, press the blue button.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

AS THE bus approached, she knew this particular driver was trouble.

The Economist

As the bus approached, so did they, thumping the front of it.

The Guardian - Sport

As the bus approached the Fifth Avenue stop, I started to get up.

The New York Times

"Oops, folks, it's closed," Mr. Cowan announced as the bus approached.

The New York Times

Shantel Walker, who works at a Papa John's in Brooklyn, jumped up as the bus approached Chicago.

The New Yorker

Worse was to come as the bus approached the Stadio San Paolo, where another gang awaited with rocks in hand.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as the bus approaches" to clearly indicate that an action or event is happening simultaneously with the bus getting closer to a specific location. For instance, "As the bus approaches, signal the driver if you intend to board."

Common error

Avoid using "as the bus approaches" in contexts where the bus's approach is irrelevant to the main point. For example, don't begin a story about unrelated events with "As the bus approaches, I remember..." unless the bus's approach is a trigger for the memory.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as the bus approaches" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when the action in the main clause occurs. It sets a temporal context, indicating simultaneity between the bus's approach and another event. Ludwig examples show it describing simultaneous actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "as the bus approaches" is a grammatically correct adverbial clause used to set a temporal context, indicating that something is happening simultaneously with a bus getting closer. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While the phrase appears most frequently in news and media, it's also found in wiki and scientific contexts and is suitable for neutral to informal registers. Consider using related phrases like "when the bus nears" or "as the bus draws near" for variation. Avoid misusing it in contexts where the bus's approach is irrelevant. Overall, it's a useful phrase for providing clear timing and context in various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

when the bus nears

Changes the preposition "as" for the verb "when", and use the verb "nears" instead of "approaches".

as the bus draws near

Replaces "approaches" with the phrasal verb "draws near", indicating a gradual coming closer.

while the bus is arriving

Focuses on the action of arriving instead of approaching, indicating a slightly later stage.

when the bus is close by

Uses a more descriptive and less formal way to express proximity.

just before the bus gets here

Emphasizes the immediacy of the bus's arrival.

in anticipation of the bus

Shifts the focus to the expectation of the bus's arrival rather than the act of approaching.

as the bus comes into view

Focuses on the visual aspect of the bus becoming visible.

with the bus on its way

Highlights the ongoing journey of the bus toward the location.

as the scheduled bus closes in

Adds specificity by mentioning a scheduled bus and using "closes in" for emphasis.

when the public transit is arriving

Replaces "bus" with a more generic "public transit"

FAQs

How can I use "as the bus approaches" in a sentence?

Use "as the bus approaches" to indicate that something occurs simultaneously with the bus getting closer. For example, "As the bus approaches, passengers gather at the bus stop".

What are some alternatives to "as the bus approaches"?

You can use alternatives like "when the bus nears", "as the bus draws near", or "while the bus is arriving" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as the bus approach" instead of "as the bus approaches"?

No, "as the bus approach" is grammatically incorrect. The verb should agree with the singular subject "bus", so the correct form is "as the bus approaches".

What's the difference between "as the bus approaches" and "when the bus arrives"?

"As the bus approaches" implies an ongoing action leading up to the arrival, while "when the bus arrives" refers to a specific point in time at the moment of arrival. It depends on which one you want to use.