transportation
GIVING DIRECTIONS
ESL REVIEW
Introduction
When you’re in a country you don’t know, you can easily get
lost at some point during the trip, even if you have a map.
So it’s really useful to know how to ask for and understand
directions in English so you can reach your destination. It’s
also great to be able to give directions yourself to tourists
or foreign colleagues.
Basic vocabulary:
It’s also helpful to know some common
places people visit in a city, such as the
following:
Here are some examples:
Go along the street until you reach
the traffic lights.
You’ll see a bank on the left.
It’s about two blocks from here.
I prefer going to the airport on the
highway because it’s faster.
Some prepositions and adverbs can also help
when you’re giving directions:
For example,
My office building is in front of the mall.
Go straight on for about one kilometre.
The cinema is next to the bank.
Asking for When you ask for directions, remember above all to be
polite. So start by saying one of the following phrases:
DIRECTIONS Hello. Can you help me, please?
Good morning. May I ask for some help?
Excuse me, could you help?
Once you have someone’s attention, you can ask for help to
reach your destination. You can do that by using one of
these phrases:
Could you tell me how to get to the bank?
Do you know where the museum is?
We can’t find the subway station. Is it near here?
Where can we find a park near here?
If you’re not sure you’re going in the right direction, you
can make sure by asking:
Are we on the right road to the city center?
Is this the right way to the mall?
What’s the best way to get to the airport?
Giving directions
In the same way that you need to ask directions when you travel
abroad, foreigners visiting your city might ask you directions, and
what better way to practice English than to help them?
Here are some common phrases you can use:
Go past the cinema. (Pass the cinema.)
Go along this road.
Go straight on/ahead. (Stay on this road – don’t turn.)
Go through the tunnel.
At the roundabout, take the first exit.
Turn left at the crossroads.
Take the second right.
It’s on your left.
You’ll see it in front of you.
It’s on the other side of the road.
You’re going the wrong way.
ask for direction!
these are some options you can use to give
directions based on the previous chart:
Go straight on. Then take the first left on to Green Street. Walk past the library and
it’s the building next to the library on the left.
Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights. You will see a shop on the right. Go past that
and it’s on the right next to the shop.
Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights and go straight on until you get to the
roundabout. At the roundabout turn left. Go past the theatre. It’s the building next to
the theatre, opposite the hospital.
Go straight on. Go past the traffic lights and take the second right on to King’s Road.
Go past the bookshop. It’s the building next to the bookshop opposite the café.
LET`S PRACTICE
types of
transportation
car truck helicopter
autorick
quad bike
scooter car
van
bicycle
train airplane
ambulance
motorcycle
bus submarine boat
Thank
You
