Grammar Practice Worksheets

Prepositions
of Direction
Table of Contents
2 Picture Dictionary
Prepositions & Places in the City

4 Grammar Notes
Prepositions of Direction

5 Exercise 1
Matchup

6 Exercise 2
Fill in the Blanks

7 Exercise 3
Listen & Draw

8 Exercise 4
Writing

9 Reference
Asking for & Giving Directions

10 Exercise 5
Unscramble the Sentences

11 Exercise 6
Map & Dialogues

13 Exercise 7
Quiz: Find the Errors

14 Answer Key

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 Prepositions of Direction
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Picture Dictionary
A. Prepositions of Direction

around
across from the corner from at 123 Main Street behind

between far from in front of kitty-corner to

near next to / beside on Main Street on the corner of

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Picture Dictionary cont.

B. Places in the City

bank theater hospital gas station

library grocery store shopping mall bakery

laundromat bus stop park parking lot

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 Prepositions of Direction
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Grammar Notes
PREPOSITIONS OF DIRECTION

A. Introduction

Prepositions of direction are words (such as on, between, and other

prepositions of place) and expressions (such as around the corner from
and kitty-corner to) that show the location of an object. They are common
to use when giving directions.

B. Pattern

Here is a common sentence pattern to use

when describing the location of a building in the city:

The + [noun] + is + [preposition] + the + [noun].

Examples:

• The bank is between the grocery store and the bakery.

• The bank is around the corner from the theater.

• The bus stop is across from the library.

Theater
Smith Street

Bank Grocery
Summer Street

Store
Bakery

Bus Stop

Main Street

Library

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 Prepositions of Direction
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Exercise 1 d
MATCHUP

Match the prepositions with the matching pictures.

i Ex. in front of

1. between

2. around the corner from

3. far from
i
4. on the corner of

5. kitty-corner to

6. behind
k
7. across from

8. next to g
9. near

10. on Main Street

e

c
b

f
j a
h

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 Prepositions of Direction
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Exercise 2
FILL IN THE BLANKS

Write the correct preposition from the box in the blanks.

next to
Ex. The bank is                  the grocery store.
Word List:
1. The grocery store is                  the gas station.
• on the corner of
2. The bus stop is                  the grocery store. • behind
• next to
3. The library is                  the grocery store.
• on
4. The bank and the grocery store are                  Main Street. • beside
• across from
5. The library is                  123 Main Street. • at
• between
6. The hospital is                  Main Street and Smith Street. • in front of
• far from
7. The car is parked                  the bank.
• kitty-corner to
8. The shopping mall is                  the bakery.

9. The gas station is                  the shopping mall.

10. The bank is                  the bakery and the grocery store.

Pine Street
Bank Grocery
Summer Street

Store Hospital
Bakery
Park

Bus Stop

Main Street
Smith Street

Gas
Station
Library Shopping Mall

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Exercise 3
LISTENING

Listen to the recording. Draw the missing items on the map.

Smith Street
Library

Main Street

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Exercise 4
WRITING

Describe your hometown. What useful places are there?

Where are they located? Use prepositions of direction.

Example:
I live in a big city. There are two grocery stores
on Main Street. My bank is also on Main Street.
The bank is between the laundromat and the bakery...

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Reference
ASKING FOR & GIVING DIRECTIONS

A. Asking for Directions

There are a few different ways to politely ask for directions in English.

Examples:

• Excuse me. Where is the nearest bank? • Can you tell me where the nearest bank is?
• Do you know where the bank is? • Sorry to bother you, but I’m looking for the bank.
• Could you please tell me where the bank is?

B. Giving Directions

There are many ways to give someone directions in English.

The verbs walk, go, and head are common and have the same meaning.
Turn and make also have the same meaning.

Examples:

• Walk two blocks up Main Street. • Walk two blocks. Turn right on Main Street.
It’s around the corner from the mall.
• Go one and a half blocks down Main Street.
• When you get to 41st Avenue, make a
• Walk up Main Street to the corner.
right and go one more block. You’ll see it.
Turn left and go half a block.
• Walk along Main Street. It’s on your left.
• Just go down Main Street. You can’t miss it!
• The nearest parking lot is behind the grocery store.
• Walk up 41st Avenue. You’ll see the
Just go up Main Street and make a right.
gas station across from the movie theater.

• Go up 41st Avenue for three blocks.

It’s between the bakery and the laundromat. Note:
• Head down Main Street. The park When giving directions in English, up, down, and
is only a few minutes from here. along can have the same meaning. If the street is
flat, use any one of these prepositions:
• Go along Main Street until you see the mall.
• Go up/down/along Main Street for two blocks.
The parking lot is behind the mall.
When there is a hill, use up and down.
• The nearest bus stop is in front of the laundromat.
Just head down 41st Avenue for about five minutes. • Go up Main Street (up the hill).
• Go down Main Street (down the hill).
• Go straight up Main Street until you get
to the corner. It’s kitty-corner to the theater.

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 Prepositions of Direction
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Exercise 5
UNSCR AMBLE THE SENTENCES

Rewrite the sentences in the correct order.

Ex. blocks / on / two / walk / Jones / Street

   Walk two blocks on Jones Street.

1. walk / Main / along / Street

2. right / turn / Avenue / on / Sunset

3. down / Union / head / Street

4. on / Avenue / First / left / turn

5. up / Mission / until / see / bank / Street / you / the / head

6. left / three / go / make / a / and / blocks

7. one / walk / and / block / turn / right

8. straight / and / up / go / Street / turn / left / Cherry

9. you / 35th / turn / get / to / Avenue / right / when

10. go / and / 22nd / along / Avenue / just / left / make / a

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 Prepositions of Direction
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Exercise 6
MAP & DIALOGUES

A. Map

Look over the map. You will use it in the dialogues in Part B on page 12.

Theater
Summer Street

Laundromat

Smith Street

Pine Street
You
Bank Grocery are
Store Hospital here
Bakery
Park

Bus Stop

Main Street

Library
Parking Lot

Gas
Station Shopping Mall

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Exercise 6 cont.
B. Dialogues

With a partner, read Dialogues 1 and 2 out loud.

Then write Dialogues 3 and 4 together using the map from Part A on page 11.

Dialogue 1 Dialogue 2

A: Excuse me. Could you please A: Excuse me. Can you tell me
tell me how to get to the bakery? how to get to the theater?

B: Certainly. Go along Main Street for two blocks. B: Sure. Walk one block to Smith Street.
The bakery is on the corner of Main Street Turn right and go half a block.
and Summer Avenue. It’s on your left next to the grocery store.

A: Thanks. I appreciate it. A: Thanks a lot.

B: You’re welcome. B: No problem.

Dialogue 3 Dialogue 4

A: Excuse me. Could you please tell me how to get to A:

the                       ?

B: Sure.                     
                        .
B:

A:            . I appreciate it.

B: You’re              .
A:

B:

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Exercise 7
QUIZ: FIND THE ERRORS

Find one error in each sentence. Rewrite the correct sentences.

Ex. The hospital is kitty-corner of the shopping mall.

   The hospital is kitty-corner to the shopping mall.

1. The bank is in the corner of Pine Street and 2nd Avenue.

2. Turn left and walk Station Street down.

3. The park is near gas station.

4. The bus stop is in front on the park.

5. Walk three block down Pine Street.

6. Turn right and heads up Seymour Avenue.

7. The parking lot behind the bakery.

8. Laundromat is far from the bank.

9. Turn left on the Smith Street.

10. Go along Oak Street and make right.

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Answer Key
Exercise 1 Exercise 4

If your students are struggling with this exercise, allow them to Answers will vary. Check that your students are using prepositions
refer back to the Picture Dictionary on page 2. correctly. Students may write about a fictional city if they choose.
You may want to follow up by having students discuss their
1. c 3. f 5. j 7. g 9. b
hometowns in pairs of groups.
2. e 4. h 6. d 8. a 10. k

Exercise 5
Exercise 2
1. Walk along Main Street.
1. kitty-corner to 5. at 9. beside
2. Turn right on Sunset Avenue.
2. in front of 6. on the corner of 10. between
3. Head down Union Street.
3. across from 7. behind
4. Turn left on First Avenue.
4. on 8. far from
5. Head up Mission Street until you see the bank.
6. Go three blocks and make a left. /
Exercise 3 Make a left and go three blocks.
7. Walk one block and turn right. / Turn right and walk one block.
Play the recording or read the transcript out loud. Give students a
8. Go straight up Cherry Street and turn left. /
minute to draw each building in the appropriate location. To correct
Turn left and go straight up Cherry Street.
it, you may want to sketch the map below on the whiteboard or
9. When you get to 35th Avenue, turn right. /
hold up the Answer Key so that students can check their work.
Turn right when you get to 35th Avenue.

Transcript: 10. Just go along 22nd Avenue and make a left. /

Just make a left and go along 22nd Avenue.
1. The hospital is beside the library.
2. The park is kitty-corner to the library.
Exercise 6
3. The bus stop is in front of the hospital.
4. The grocery store is across from the library.
A. MAP
5. The hospital is between the library and the bank.
Have students study the map individually for a few minutes.
Alternatively, pair students up and have them take turns describing
Smith Street

the location of the buildings using prepositions of place.

Bank Hospital Library

B. DIALOGUES

Bus Stop Answers will vary. Monitor your students for correct pronunciation
and preposition usage. You could also have each pair act out one
Main Street
of their dialogues in front of the class. You may want to teach
them how to politely tell someone that they can’t give directions.
Grocery (E.g., Sorry, I’m not sure where the bank is. I’m not from around here.)
Store Park

(continued on the next page...)

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Answer Key cont.

Exercise 7

1. The bank is on the corner of Pine Street and 2nd Avenue.

2. Turn left and walk down Station Street.
3. The park is near the gas station.
4. The bus stop is in front of the park.
5. Walk three blocks down Pine Street.
6. Turn right and head up Seymour Avenue.
7. The parking lot is behind the bakery.
8. The laundromat is far from the bank.
9. Turn left on Smith Street.
10. Go along Oak Street and make a right.

SPELLING NOTE:

This lesson shows the American spelling of the word Theater.

Most other English-speaking countries spell it this way: Theatre.
Make it a challenge for your students to find this word in the
lesson and see if they know the alternate spelling.

GR AMMAR NOTE:

Note that far from is technically an adverb, but we’ve included it

in this lesson as a preposition expression in contrast with near.
For a discussion on prepositions vs. adverbs, see our blog post:
http://blog.esllibrary.com/2013/05/09/preposition-or-adverb/

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Consider making a treasure hunt-style activity for your

students if your school is in a suitable area and your students
are an appropriate age. Have a list of 10 instructions where
students (in pairs or small groups) have to write what they see.

(For example, #1 could be: Leave the school. Turn left. Walk two
blocks to the corner of Main Street and Robson Avenue. Which
building is on your left beside the bank?          )

Alternatively, have students pair up and draw a map of the

area around your school. You could tell them they have to
map out five blocks or so.

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