Asking for and Giving Directions! This English lesson will focus on asking for and giving directions.
You are lost in a small town in the United States! You need to ask someone for directions. More than that, you need to understand the directions they tell you!
Tip! Taxi drivers, police officers and local restaurant owners usually know their cities pretty well. Don’t be afraid to ask them to help you. Be careful if the taxi driver says he will take you. He will still expect you to pay and it might be just around the corner!
Here is a quick guide to getting help if you get lost.
Directions: Asking for Help
If you are asking a stranger on the street, it is a good idea to start politely. Use:
- Excuse me. Can I ask you a question?
- Pardon me. Are you from around here?
- Sorry, could you help me?
There are many ways to ask for directions. Here are some standard forms:
- Where can I find the City Hall?
- Is the City Hall that way? (Pointing down the street)
- How do I get to the City Hall from here?
- Could you tell me how to get to the City Hall?
- Could you show me where we are on the map?
Understanding Directions
Brush up on your imperative grammar and learn the following vocabulary and you should be good to go!
Turning:
| Turn | at the next traffic light. | |
| Go | right | at the church. |
| Hang a | left | at the intersection. |
| Make a |
Examples:
- Make a right at the church.
- Hang a left at the intersection.
- Go right at the next traffic light.
You can also use “follow this street for 2 blocks until …”
*Note that follows requires an object, so the order of the sentence is slightly different from the other examples above.
Going Straight Ahead:
| Go | on | you see | a traffic light. | ||||
| Keep going | straight | down | this street | for 2 blocks | until | you hit | a set of lights. |
| Keep on | up | that road | for 5 minutes | you pass | a bank. | ||
| Continue | you find | an intersection. |
Examples:
- Go straight down this street for 5 minutes until you hit a set of lights.
- Continue on that road for 2 blocks until you pass a bank.
Questions? Feel free to let me know!
