Asking for and giving directions
Ask for directions and understand them: turn left, go straight on, it’s on the right.
In this lesson you will
- Ask politely for directions
- Understand and give directions
- Use imperatives: go, turn, take, cross
Learn
Ask: Excuse me, where’s the station? · How do I get to the museum? · Is there a pharmacy near here? · Is it far?
Directions use the imperative (base verb, no subject): Go straight on. Turn left/right. Take the second street on the left. Cross the road. Go past the bank. Go along this street.
Location: It’s on the left / right. It’s on the corner. It’s opposite* the park. It’s next to the café. It’s at the end of the street.*
Distance: It’s about five minutes’ walk. It’s not far. It’s quite far — take a bus.
Examples
- Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
- Go straight on and turn left at the traffic lights.
- Take the first street on the right.
- The bank is on the corner, opposite the church.
- It’s about ten minutes on foot.
Vocabulary
turn
change direction
“Turn right.”
straight on
forward, not turning
traffic lights
red, amber and green lights for cars
corner
where two streets meet
cross
go from one side to the other
“Cross the bridge.”
far
a long way
“Is it far?”
roundabout
a circle where roads meet
In real life
A tourist asks for help.
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Tourist: Excuse me, is there a post office near here?
Local: Yes. Go along this street and take the second left.
Tourist: The second left…
Local: Then go past the supermarket. The post office is on the right, next to a bakery.
Tourist: Is it far?
Local: No, about five minutes’ walk.
Tourist: Thanks a lot!
Practice
___ straight on for 200 metres.
Listening: Finding the museum
Audio isn’t available in this browser — read the transcript instead.
Woman: Excuse me, how do I get to the City Museum?
Man: Go straight on to the roundabout. Then take the third exit.
Woman: The third exit…
Man: Yes. Go along that road and cross the bridge. The museum is on the left, opposite a big hotel.
Woman: Can I walk?
Man: Yes, but it’s about twenty minutes.
1.Which exit at the roundabout?
2.What is opposite the museum?
3.How many minutes’ walk is it?
Speaking
Give directions from your home (or a station you know) to a café, a shop and a park. Use at least five direction phrases.
Writing
A friend is visiting. Write a message with directions from the bus stop to your home (50–70 words).
Lesson quiz
“Take the second left” means:
Review
Key points
- Excuse me, where’s…? How do I get to…? Is there a … near here?
- Go straight on, turn left/right, take the first/second…, cross, go past.
- on the left/right, on the corner, opposite, next to, at the end of.
What you learned
- ✓ I can ask for directions.
- ✓ I can understand directions.
- ✓ I can give simple directions.
Grammar reference: Imperatives, Prepositions of place