Meaning: The bus did not arrive at the expected time.
Choice of Words: Late is used to say something that is not on time or that takes a longer time than expected. Bus was late means the bus didn't come on time.
Alternative Expressions
The bus was tardy.
Meaning: This means the same as "Bus was late". It means that the bus didn't come at the time it was supposed to.
Choice of Words:The is used to refer to a specific thing. Bus is a large vehicle that carries people. Was is a verb that describes an action that happened in the past. Tardy means not arriving or happening on time. When you put them together, "The bus was tardy" tells you that a specific bus didn't arrive on time.
The bus didn't arrive on time.
Meaning: This means the same as "Bus was late" and "The bus was tardy". It means that the bus didn't come at the time it was supposed to.
Choice of Words:The is used to refer to a specific thing. Bus is a large vehicle that carries people. Didn't is a contraction of the words "did not" and means that something did not happen. Arrive means to reach a place or destination. On time means at the scheduled or expected time. When you put them together, "The bus didn't arrive on time" tells you that a specific bus didn't come at the time it was supposed to.