How to give directions in English. We ask and show you the way. Directions in English. Lesson assignments

The best time of the year is vacation. It’s especially wonderful when you have the opportunity to spend this vacation not at home on the couch, but traveling, conquering new cities and countries. But probably everyone has had to look for the right path at least once in their life. This can happen even in your hometown, let alone new places. If you are in an English-speaking country, you should be armed with the necessary phrases in advance in case you need to ask someone to point you in the right direction, and in order to understand what has been explained to you.

Asking for directions

If you are a travel lover, then most likely there have been cases when, in pursuit of new impressions and foreign wonders, you suddenly found yourself in an unknown place, from which it was not possible to get out. If this happened in one’s native country, it’s not so bad – “the language will bring it to Kyiv.” But if you are abroad, then here without knowing the key phrases English language there's no way around it. There are several ways to ask a passerby to point you in the right direction. For example:

Can you help me? I am looking for Church Street.- Could you help me? I'm looking for Church Street.
Do you know where Church Street is?-You don’t know where Church Street is?
Could you give me some directions?- Could you tell me the way?
Excuse me, how can we get to the Central Station?- Excuse me, how do we get to Central Station?

If you use one of these phrases, you will sound polite enough, they will immediately understand you without lengthy explanations and will definitely help you.

It is a known fact that Europeans and Americans are very polite people and they are always happy to help. Therefore, do not be surprised if, seeing your confused look, someone comes up to you on the street and offers help. You may be asked a similar question:

Can I help you?- I can help you?
What can I do for you?- What can I do for you?

Here you can immediately get to the point and explain what you are actually looking for.

Giving directions

It is likely that someday they may also turn to you for help. People are traveling more and more, and English-speaking tourists may well rely on you in the hope of finding a particular attraction or just a street. In this case, some template phrases that indicate the location of something will be very useful. For example, the most basic thing that even a schoolchild should know is to explain how to turn left/right or go straight. In English it sounds like this:

Turn left/right.- Turn left/right.

You can also say this:

Take the next right/left.- First turn right/left.
Take the second right/left.- Second turn right/left.
Go straight on till the end of the road. - Continue walking until the end of the road.
Keep walking for about 50 meters.- Continue walking another 50 meters.

Knowing these basic phrases, you can already significantly help the unfortunate tourist. But this is not the limit at all. To give a more detailed explanation, you can also use the following phrases:

It's on the other side of the road.- It's on the other side of the road.
Cross the road.- Cross the road.
It's on the corner.- It's on the corner.
It's on your left/right.- It's to your left/right.

Nearby objects can also be helpful in describing the correct path. So you can say: Go past the cinema (go past the cinema) or It’s opposite the cinema (this is opposite the cinema). Such descriptions can be even more useful, especially if the path is long and you have to turn left a dozen times and right the same number of times.

Going by transport

If you are in big city(and, as you know, big cities are famous for long distances), then the above phrases will clearly not be enough, because it will be much more convenient for a person to use public transport to get to the desired attraction. In this case, you can simply explain to the tourist how to get to the nearest stop and tell him which bus to take, for example: Take a 71 bus. Of course, don't forget to mention which stop you should get off at. Here you can say: “Get off at the next stop” (get off at the next stop).

Saying sorry

Of course, you cannot know everything and, perhaps, you yourself find yourself in this place first. Therefore, you need to be able to politely refuse help if you are asked to show the way, but you simply do not know it. In this case you can say:

I'm afraid I can't help you with it.- I'm afraid I can't help you with this.
I'm not sure I can help you.- It’s unlikely that I can help you.
Sorry, but I’m not local here.- Sorry, but I'm not local here.

Remember these basic phrases and you can get out of any situation, anywhere. Online English teachers will always be happy to help you develop your practical skills. If you can find it without problems mutual language with people in any unforeseen situation, even if you get lost, then traveling will always be a joy. So even such seemingly unpleasant situations can lead to pleasant communication and acquaintance with interesting people anywhere on our planet.

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In this article you will learn how to ask and give directions. Rules for constructing and answering this topic will be discussed. After studying this article, it is recommended to learn phrases from “)”, thereby consolidating what you have learned.

If you want to ask for directions, use the following expressions:

How do I get to...?
How do I get to...?

Excuse me, how do I get to the post office?
Excuse me, how do I get to the post office?

Is there a...near here?
Is there any nearby...?

Excuse me, is there a bank near here, please?
Excuse me please, is there a bank nearby?

Could (can) you tell me where the ... is?
Could you tell me where is...?

Excuse me, could you tell me where the National Gallery is?
Excuse me, could you tell me where the National Gallery is?

Could (can) you tell me the way to ...?
Could you tell me the way to...?

Could you tell me the way to the bus station, please?
Could you tell me the way to the bus station, please?

Important. To be polite, you need to say " Excuse me", or at the end" Please". But it is not recommended to use these two words in one sentence - it will be too formal. The word " Could"is more polite than" Can".

To indicate the way, standard expressions are usually used:

Go straight...
Go...

Go straight on ahead (UK version)
Go straight ahead (American version)
Go straight

Turn left/right...
Turn left/right...

Turn left at the bank
Turn left near the bank

Turn right at the corner
At the bend, turn right

Take a left/right (American version)

Go past/across...
Pass (through)...

Go past the bridge
Cross the bridge

Go across the street, road, crossroads
Walk (through) a street, road, intersection

Keep going until you get to...
Keep going until you reach...

Keep going until you get to the park
Keep walking until you reach the park

One example of a possible conversation:

Excuse me. Could you tell me the way to the library, please?
Sorry. Could you tell me the way to the library, please?

Yes, sure. Go straight ahead and keep going until you get to the post office. Then turn left and keep going until you get to the crossroads. Turn right at the crossroads and the library is on your left.
Yes, sure. Go straight and keep going until you reach the post office. Then turn left and continue walking until you reach an intersection. At the intersection, turn right and the library will be on your left.

Thank you very much.
Thank you very much

Hello ladies and gentlemen! It happens that even after purchasing several maps, turning on the navigator, and asking friends in detail how to get to the place we need, we realize that we are lost and do not know where we are. In this case, you need to learn how to ask the local population for directions in English. Residents of the city will also tell you the way to a good restaurant, museum or stadium. So learn how to ask for directions correctly with our audio lesson.

Remember also the similar audio lesson you completed? Finding your way around the city using English, which will also help you figure out directions in unfamiliar areas. In this audio lesson, you will learn how to ask for directions in detail - how many meters to drive or walk, what type of public transport is best to take, where, when and at what traffic light to turn to get to the destination you need.

Right now, start listening to an online audio lesson on the topic “ Asking for directions» in English with the most necessary phrases for finding out the direction and route of movement and learning the pronunciation of all expressions with the correct English accent: /wp-content/uploads/2014/07/RUEN040.mp3 Use the audio recording of the lesson to practice listening and speaking. After all, these are the main components of successful mastery of foreign spoken language. Only the practice of listening to the speech of native speakers and the practice of communicating in English will help you learn to speak English.

Finding out the way in English

Reading is also an important stage in studying foreign language, so study the table carefully and note the differences between the spelling and pronunciation of some words in British and American English. Train your speed reading skills and pronounce each sentence several times with different intonation and semantic emphasis on individual words in the sentence.

Asking for directions
English	Russian
Excuse me!	Excuse me, please!
Can you help me?	Can you help me?
Is there a good restaurant around here?	Where's a good restaurant?
Take a left at the corner	Go left, around the corner
Then go straight for a while	Then walk straight a little
Then go right for a hundred meters/meters (am)	Then walk a hundred meters to the right
You can also take the bus	You can also take the bus
You can also take the tram	You can also take the tram
You can also follow me with your car	You can also just follow me
How do I get to the football/soccer (am) stadium?	How do I get to the football stadium?
Cross the bridge!	Cross the bridge!
Go through the tunnel!	Drive through the tunnel!
Drive until you reach the third traffic light	Drive to the third traffic light
Then turn into the first street on your right	Then turn right as soon as possible
Then drive straight through the next intersection	Then go straight through the next intersection
Excuse me, how do I get to the airport?	Excuse me, how do I get to the airport
It is best if you take the underground/subway (am)	Better take the metro
Simply get out at the last stop	Drive to the final station

Feel free to ask for directions, even if you are not fluent in the language. Local residents are accustomed to foreigners, and no one will reproach you for saying the wrong phrase. And do you keep in mind that in various options In English, sometimes words differ radically from each other. For example, “underground” and “subway” have completely different lexical compositions, but they mean the same thing - subway or metro.

Remember: it is better to ask for directions incorrectly than to go in the wrong direction. Good luck! See you later!

Hello, dear listeners and readers! We continue slowly. But it’s true to master the series of audio lessons “That’s what they say in America,” and along with the course, the spoken English of ordinary Americans. During today's lesson, you will learn ask directions and also explain directions, how to get or get to the place you or someone else needs in American English.

Ask for directions and give directions in English

In a foreign city, it is sometimes very difficult to find a certain street or building, but, as they say, language will take you to Kyiv, and in our case, to Washington. Do not hesitate to ask passers-by how to get to or get to the place you need, and do not refuse to help other foreigners if they ask you for directions. And in order to be able to ask or explain correctly, today you will learn a lot of new and useful vocabulary in English.

As always, we start with Martin Lerner talking to other characters. This time, our good friend, Voice of America reporter Martin, walks the American streets and, asking questions, tries to figure out how to get to the Museum of Fine Arts, asking directions from several passers-by. Let's find out what the strangers answer him, and whether he managed to find out how to get to the museum: Martin:
Excuse me, where is Art Museum? - I'm sorry, where is it? Male 1:
As always, we start with Martin Lerner talking to other characters. This time, our good friend, Voice of America reporter Martin, walks the American streets and, asking questions, tries to figure out how to get to the Museum of Fine Arts, asking directions from several passers-by. Let's find out what the strangers answer him, and whether he managed to find out how to get to the museum: Sorry. I don't know. - Sorry. I don't know.
Where is the Museum? — Could you tell me where the Museum of Fine Arts is? Female 1:
As always, we start with Martin Lerner talking to other characters. This time, our good friend, Voice of America reporter Martin, walks the American streets and, asking questions, tries to figure out how to get to the Museum of Fine Arts, asking directions from several passers-by. Let's find out what the strangers answer him, and whether he managed to find out how to get to the museum: Go straight ahead. - Go straight ahead.
Excuse me, where is the Art Museum? — Excuse me, can you tell me where the Museum of Fine Arts is? Female 2:

It's on the river. It's on the Jefferson Street. — It is located on the river bank. It is located on Jefferson Street.

As you can see, it is easier for women to make contact, unlike men. And with the help of two strangers, Martin managed to find out where the place he needed was located. Remember also the online lesson

Find out who is doing what

Use the audio recording of the lesson to hear how ordinary Americans pronounce the dialogue and hear other words and phrases in English. Pay attention to the intonation with which Lerner asks passers-by for directions: /wp-content/uploads/2014/09/russian_english_006.mp3

When listening to how Americans pronounce words, repeat all the expressions after them to practice your own pronunciation. Follow A. Fillipova's instructions to master the lesson step by step.

Asking for directions in English With the help of a convenient table with phrases in English and translation into Russian, today you will learn new expressions, question words, as well as some grammatical categories

words: verbs, nouns, pronouns, adverbs, prepositions.
Ask and explain
Phrases	I'm sorry
Sorry. Sorry	Excuse me
Verbs
ask	ask
go	go
come	come
turn	turn
Verb + negative particle + know
written form - in written speech	I don't know
spoken - in oral speech	I don't know
Nouns
building	building
museum	museum
director	director
river	river
Adverbs
left	left
right	right
down	downstairs
up	upstairs
directly	straight ahead
there	there
Prepositions
over there	over there
on: on the river bank	on: on the river
Pronouns
It: It’s on the river	he, it, this: He is on the river
Question words
Where	where

You may have noticed that some words and even entire expressions can be translated differently, but in context these lexemes are very similar and can be interpreted as indicated in the table. Be sure to save and memorize this table!

We give directions in English

The picture shows the main directions of movement with translation:

Go straight on until you come to a crossroads. - Go straight to the intersection.

Turn left into Gordon Street. - Turn left onto Gordon Street.

Take the next left. - The next turn is left.

Take the second road on the left . - On the second road, turn left (second lane).

Turn right at the traffic lights. - Turn right at the traffic light.

It's opposite the church. - It's opposite the church.

It's next to the bank. - It's next to the bank.

It's between the school and the shop. - It's between the school and the store.

It's at the end of the road. - It's at the end of the road.

It’s on the corner of Market Street and Baker Street. - It's on the corner of Market and Baker Streets.

It's just behind this building. - It's behind this building.

It's in front of the school. - It's in front of the school.

It's just around the corner. - It's around the corner here.

It's on the left/right. — It (is) on the left/right.

It's around the corner.- It's around the corner.

It is better if you take a taxi. - It's better to take a taxi.

It's 500 meters from here. — It's 500 meters from here.

Bank Street is parallel with this street. - Bank Street is parallel to this street.

Penny Street is perpendicular to this street. - Penny Street is perpendicular to this street.

It's four blocks down the street on this side of the road. - It's four blocks down this side of the street.

Turn right at the roundabout. - Turn right at the road roundabout.

Asking for directions: useful expressions

Use these template phrases to ask for directions in an unfamiliar place:

I'm trying to get to the museum. - I'm trying to get to the museum (I need to find my way to the museum).

Do you know where the post office is? - Do you know where the post office is?

What’s the best way to get to the train station? - What is the best way to get to the railway station?

Can you give me directions to the nearest bus stop? — Can you indicate the direction to the nearest bus stop?

How do I get to the train station? — How to get to the railway station?

Where can I find the nearest bakery? — Where can I find the nearest bakery?

How can I get to the bank? — How to get to the bank?

Where is the hospital? —Where (is) the hospital?

Don't forget to be polite:

Exuse me, how can I go to the library? - As an excuse to go to the library?

Exuse me, is there a supermarket near here? — Excuse me, is there a supermarket somewhere nearby?

Pardon me, I’m lost, how do I get to the library? - Sorry, I'm lost, how do I get to the library?

Could you, please, tell me how to get to the computer store? — Could you tell me how to get to the computer store?

Dialogue on the topic

If the presented material seems insufficient to you, I suggest moving on to a dialogue on the topic of orientation in English. Here you will find many additional phrases about how to ask for directions or help someone by indicating the direction of travel.

Fill in the gaps in the sentences with the following words: east, bank, school, roundabout, third, church

The dialogue is quite interesting and simple, so try to translate it yourself. Moreover, you received enough tips in this lesson, so you can use them when translating.

Lenny: Excuse me, I’m trying to find a pub called the Cock & Bull. Could you point me in the right direction?

George: Ah... the Cock & Bull. I know it well. Excellent pub.

Lenny: Oh, great. I’m new to the city and I’m supposed to meet a friend there, but I haven’t got a clue where I am.

George: Right. Go straight ahead. Then, take the (1) _______ road on your left. That's Queen Street. Follow it until you pass a (2) ________, and then… No, hang on. That's not right.

Lenny: Oh, I can ask someone else if you’re not sure.

George: No, no. I know London like the back of my hand… OK. Ignore everything I just said. From here, you want to get onto Charles Street, which is parallel to this street. Then walk (3) _____________ about 500 meters until you see an old (4) _______. Turn right at the church and… Wait a minute…

Lenny: I’ve got a map here…

George: I don't need a map. I've lived here all my life. And the Cock & Bull isn't far away. Excellent pub, by the way. They do a fantastic steak and kidney pie… Or was it steak and mushroom? Anyway. Go about four hundred meters that way and when you get to a (5)____________, hang a left. Walk for another two minutes and you’ll see a (5)_________ on the opposite side of the road. The pub is just next to the bank. You can't miss it.

Lenny: Great! Thank you!

George: No, hold on… That’s where the pub used to be. It moved 15 years ago.

Lenny: Maybe I should ask someone else.

George: No, no, I’m your man. I practically live at the Bear & Bull.

Lenny: You mean the Cock & Bull.

George: No, the Bear & Bull.

Lenny: I'm trying to get to the Cock & Bull.

George: The Cock & Bull? No idea! Never heard of it! Goodbye!

This is how dialogues in our lives can take place in such a funny way. In any case, this dialogue showed us how to give directions in English in real life, as well as how to ask passers-by for directions. As you can see, passersby cannot always help, so you need to be more patient and not despair.