Lesson 4: Asking for and Giving Directions

Knowing how to ask for and give directions is essential for everyday communication, especially if you’re in an unfamiliar place. In this lesson, you’ll learn useful phrases for finding your way around and helping others do the same!

Tutorial

When asking for directions, it’s polite to start with an opening phrase, like “Excuse me, could you help me?” or “Excuse me, do you know where…”. Here are some key phrases to remember:

Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to [place]?
Can you help me find [place]?
Is there a [place] nearby?
How do I get to [place]?

When giving directions, try to be clear and specific. Mention landmarks if possible and use phrases such as:

Go straight ahead: Continue in the same direction without turning.
Turn left/right at [landmark]: e.g., “Turn left at the traffic lights.”
Go past [landmark]: Continue walking until you have passed a certain landmark.
It’s on your left/right: Useful when the destination is nearby or visible.
Take the first/second/third left/right: Indicates which turn to take on a specific street.

Additional phrases to specify distances include:

It’s about a 5-minute walk.
You’ll see it just after the bank.
It’s across from/opposite the park.
It’s at the corner of [Street A] and [Street B].

Sample Conversation

Person A: Excuse me, could you help me find the nearest subway station?

Person B: Sure! Walk straight ahead for two blocks, and you’ll see it on your right.

Person A: Thank you! Is it far from here?

Person B: No, it’s only about a 5-minute walk.

Person A: Great! One more question: Do you know if there’s a good coffee shop nearby?

Person B: Yes! There’s a nice one just around the corner. Turn left at the next street, and you’ll see it on your left, right next to the bookstore.

Person A: Thanks so much! I appreciate your help.

Quiz

1. Which of these is a polite way to start asking for directions?

A. Where’s the park? B. Do you know how to get to the library? C. Excuse me, could you help me find the library?

Correct! “Excuse me, could you help me find the library?” is polite and clear.

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2. How would you tell someone to go straight ahead?

A. Go left at the corner. B. Keep going straight ahead. C. It’s across from the park.

Correct! “Keep going straight ahead” is a clear instruction.

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3. What does “It’s on your right” mean?

A. The place is visible on your right side. B. Turn left to reach the place. C. You need to go back the way you came.

Correct! “It’s on your right” means the location is on your right side.

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4. Which phrase would you use to indicate a turn at a specific street?

A. Go straight ahead. B. Take the first right. C. It’s on your left.

Correct! “Take the first right” clearly indicates a turn.

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5. How might you describe a location opposite a park?

A. It’s next to the park. B. It’s across from the park. C. It’s behind the park.

Correct! “It’s across from the park” describes a location opposite the park.

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Lesson 4: Asking for and Giving Directions