Everyday English Conversations -

Directions

Presented By

AmerEnglishLive Free / Speak Free

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The dialogues are all one conversation and are not broken into sentences for listening.

Listen to each saying and / or sentence and then repeat each of them. You may want to do this several times so you get the right pronunciation.

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Phrases & Vocabulary

Go straight on Elm Street.

Go along Elm Street.

Go down Elm Street.

Follow Elm Street for 200 metres.

Follow Elm Street until you get to the church.

Turn left into Oxford Street.

Turn right into Oxford Street.

Take the first turning on the right.

Go past the pet shop.

Go along the river.

Go over the bridge.

Go through the park.

Go towards the church.

Go up the hill.

Go down the hill.

Cross Oxford Street.

The bookshop is opposite the church.

The bookshop is between the church and the pet shop.

The bookshop is on/at the corner.

The bookshop is in front of the church.

The bookshop is behind the church.

The bookshop is next to the church.

The bookshop is beside the church.

The bookshop is near the church.

car park (BE) parking lot (AE)

crossroads

roundabout

traffic lights

Asking for and Giving Directions

How do I get to …?

What's the best way to …?

Where is …?

Go straight on (until you come to …).

Turn back./Go back.

Turn left/right (into …-street).

Go along …

Cross …

Take the first/second road on the left/right

It's on the left/right.

straight on

opposite

near

next to

between

at the end (of)

on/at the corner

behind

in front of

(just) around the corner

traffic lights

crossroads

junction signpost

excuse me, could you tell me how to get to ...?

the bus station

excuse me, do you know where the ... is?

post office

I'm sorry, I don't know

sorry, I'm not from around here

I'm looking for ...

this address

are we on the right road for ...?

Brighton

is this the right way for ...?

Ipswich

do you have a map?

can you show me on the map?

it's this way

it's that way

you're going the wrong way

you're going in the wrong direction

take this road

go down there

take the first on the left

take the second on the right

turn right at the crossroads

continue straight ahead for about a mile (one mile is approximately 1.6 kilometres)

continue past the fire station

you'll pass a supermarket on your left

keep going for another ...

hundred yards (about 91 metres)

two hundred metres

half mile (about 800 metres)

kilometre

it'll be ...

on your left

on your right

straight ahead of you

How to Give DirectionsYou know how to ASK for directions, but what happens when an English speaker asks YOU for directions. This is not a time for small talk. Give only basic directions with short phrases. Do the best you can.

How do I get to Main Street?

Where is the closest gas station?

Can you tell me where the community centre is?

I’m looking for Jane Street.

Are you from around here?

Questions you may hear

If you know the way…Use basic English to offer directions. Short phrases are best. Speak slowly and use very careful pronunciation. Spell out a word if necessary.

The easiest way is to…

The quickest way is to…

The best way is to…

go + direction (right, left, down, up, through)

take + road name

turn + right/left

stay on + road name for + distance or time

The easiest way is to go right on Commercial Avenue.

The quickest way is to take Road Number 1.

The best way is to turn right on Main Street.

Stay on Route 1 for about ten minutes.

Examples:

Separate each leg of the route with a transition.

after that

then

next

when you get to…go…

finally

Use transitions

It’s just around the corner (not far).

It’s not far.

It’s a bit of a way. (it takes a while)

It’s about a five minute walk.

It’s about a twenty minute bus ride.

Offer “Ballpark Figures” (rough estimates of time or length of travel)

Some people feel better knowing how long it will take to get from A to B.

You will see a large clock on the right.

You will pass a gas station.

It’s across from the blue church.

Use landmarks

Tell the person what to watch for.

It’s on + street name

It’s across from

It’s opposite

It’s near

It’s around the corner from

More useful language

Stay in the right lane.

It’s a very busy road.

It’s a big hill. (if they are walking or on a bike)

There might be construction.

If you pass the … you went too far.

There’s no parking.

Offer warnings

Repeat yourself

If YOU repeat the directions again, the other person will feel more confident. Repeat important details including street names and turns. You can also ask the other person to repeat the directions back to you.

Turn right at the next street

Get in the left lane.

Go one more block. Then turn right.

At the next traffic lights turn…

It’s going to be on your right.

If you are in the car with the driver…

Give a lot of warning

Make sure that the other person understood your directions. Say: “Did you get all that?”

Clarify

I’m sorry, I’m not from here.

I’m afraid I can’t help you.

Sorry I don’t know my way around here.

If you don’t know the way…

Don’t guess! Don’t just shake your head and walk away. Use one of these phrases:

You could ask the bus driver.

Ask the front desk clerk.

Follow me. I’ll show you the way.

Do you want me to draw you a map?

Offer another solution

We can use various patterns in asking and giving directions. Look at the following dialogues to get an idea of how to ask and give directions in a polite way.

1.Excuse me. Can you tell me where the pharmacy is?

It is on First Street. Walk down the first street and you will see the pharmacy on the right, next to the gas station.

Thank you.

2. Excuse me. Can you tell me how to get to the Public Library from here?

Sure. Walk up Bright Street and you'll see the public library on the left, across from the Laundromat.

Thanks a lot.

3. Excuse me. Would you please tell me how to get to the hospital from here?

Certainly. Drive along First Avenue to Maple Street and turn right. Drive up Maple Street and you will see the hospital on the left, between the museum and the park.

Thanks.

4. Excuse me. What is the easiest way to get to the Grand hotel?

Take the Park Street bus and get off at Second Avenue. Walk down Second Avenue and you'll see the Grand Hotel on the left.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

5.

Visitor: Can you tell me how to reach the bank please?

Policeman: Which bank? There are two: the Allied Irish Bank and the Bank of Ireland.

Visitor: I have an AIB pass card and I want to withdraw money from the bank.

Policeman: You need to go to the Allied Irish Bank which is near the local shopping centre, Dunnes Stores.

Visitor: How do I get there? I have no knowledge of this area.

Policeman: Cross the road and turn left at the other side. Walk along the footpath until you reach the traffic lights. You will see a shopping centre on the right hand side. Walk across the road and turn right after the shopping centre. Keep going straight for about 100m and the bank is to your left.

Visitor: It sounds very complicated. How far is it from here?

Policeman: It's not so complicated. It's about five minutes walk from here. I can draw a map for you if you wish.

Visitor: Oh, I would really appreciate that. By the way will I be going North or South?

Policeman: You will be going northwards. You are now in the Western part of the city and the Allied Irish Bank is situated in the North East. Here's a rough sketch of the area.

6.

Where is the bank?

It's on Main Street.It's next to the post office.It's between the bakery and the barber shop.It's on the corner of Ninth Street and Pine (Street).

7.

Where's Lagoon?

It's in Davis County, near Kaysville.It's on I-15, between Farmington and Kaysville.It's ten miles north of Salt Lake City.

8.

How do you get to the sporting goods store?

(on foot)

First, go down State Street until you get to 4th South.Then, turn left.Then, go down 4th South for three blocks.It's on the right side of the street next to Wendy's.

(by car)

Take State Street to 4th South.At 4th South, turn left.Stay on 4th South for about three blocks.The sporting goods store will be on the right, next to Wendy's.

9.

How do you get to (your house in) Lehi?

Take I-15 south about 20 miles. After you cross the mountain, watch for the signs to Lehi.Take the first Lehi exit.When you get off the freeway, make a right turn at the stop sign.Follow the road (15th East) for five blocks.Make a left turn on Royal Drive.Continue on Royal Drive until you see the big oak tree.My house is on the left hand side.It's a two-story, red brick house with a large front yard.You can't miss it!

10. Excuse me. Is there a grocery store around here? Yeah. There's one right across the street. 11. Can you tell me how to get to Phoenix? Sorry. I don't live around here. 12. Where's Tanner's Leather Shop? It's on the corner of Holly and Vine. Next to the library. 13. How do you get to the bank?Go straight down this street for two blocks. Turn left when you get to Maple Street. Stay on Maple for half a block. It's on the left hand side.

you are here •

Study the map. Then go on and answer the questions (true or false) On the next slide.

1. The jewelry store is behind the Italian restaurant

2. The bar is on Second Avenue

3. The police station is on the left from Fire Department

4. The toy store is across from the Chinese restaurant

5. The movie theater is opposite the Book store

6. The sporting goods store is behind the Furniture store

7. The bar is next to the Chinese restaurant

Answers

Task 2. Look at the map. Choose the correct name of the building!

1. Take the first street on the left. Take the next street on the right. Go straight on and cross the road. It's on the left.

2. Take the first street on the left. Go down the street. Turn on right. Take the next street on the left. Go straight on and cross the road. Go straight on. It's on your left on the corner of the road.

3. Take the first street on the left. Take the next street on the right. Take the next street on the right. Pass the Fire Department. It's on your left.

Furniture Store

Toy Store

Police Station

Answers

Task 3. Fill in the missing preposition.

1. The Women's wear is the Jewelry Store.

2. The Movie Theater is the Book Store.

3. The Women's wear is the Jewelry Store and the Sporting Goods.

4. The Toy store is of Main Street and Forest Street.

5. The Jewelry Store is the Italian Restaurant.

1. Beside2. Opposite3. Between4. On the corner5. Behind, in front of, or beside

Answers

Exercise on Asking and Giving Directions

What's the best way to the post office? (Use the map for orientation.)

Excuse me, where is the post office, please?

at the next corner.

Then until you come to the traffic lights.

there.

The post office is the cinema.

Turn right

Go straight

Turn left

Opposite

Answers

Exercise on Asking and Giving DirectionsFill in the words below correctly. (Use the map for orientation.)

continue, end, excuse, get, left (2x), next, opposite, right, second, straight on, thank, turn, welcome

me, how do I to the cinema?

Go .

Turn at the corner.

Then take the road on your .

to the of the road.

left there.

The cinema is on your , the castle.

you very much.

You're .

ExcuseGetStraightLeftSecondRightContinueEndTurnLeftOppositeThankWelcome

Answers