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Asking and giving directions
Nouns
1. Asking and giving directions
It is important to know how to ask for and give directions to get to a destination: city, street, etc.
- Where is the chemist's?
- Go straight on and turn left.
2. Asking for directions
To ask for directions, we can use structures as the following:
| More informal | More formal |
|---|---|
| Where is the post office? | Could you tell me the way to the bank, please? |
| Is there a chemist's around here? | Could you tell me how to get to the cinema, please? |
| Can you help me? I'm looking for the theatre. | |
| How (can/do) I get to the station? | What's the best way to go to the church? |
To draw the attention of someone we don't know, we use the expression excuse me followed by the interrogative sentence we want to formulate.
Excuse me, how can I get to the bank?
Excuse me, where is the baker's?
3. Giving directions
To give instructions to someone on how to get to a particular place, we will usually use structures such as the following:
Turn left
Turn right
Go straight on/ahead
Go across the street
On the corner
Go as far as
Go past the
Go along the street
Go up the street
Go down the street
Take the 1 st/2 nd/3 rd turning on the right
Take the 1 st/2 nd/3 rd turning on the left
Remember!
| Asking for directions | Giving directions | |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the (nearest)...? | Turn left | Turn right |
| How (can/do) I get to the...? | Go straight on / ahead | Go across the street |
| Is there a... (around / near) here? | On the corner | Go as far as the cinema |
| What's the best way to go to the...? | Go past the | Go along the street |
| Could you tell me how to get to the...? | Take the 1st / 2nd / 3rd turning on the right | Take the 1st / 2nd / 3rd turning on the left |