Asking for and giving directions in English

“Turn left on Market Street.”

Asking for and giving directions in English is a crucial skill to obtain. By using proper phrases and structuring your directions clearly, you can confidently ask for and give directions in English. Here’s a breakdown of common phrases and how to structure your responses:

Asking for directions

• Polite inquiries
  • “Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to…?”
  • “Excuse me, where is the…?”
  • “Excuse me, I’m looking for…”
  • “Could you direct me to…?”
  • “How do I get to…?”
• More informal inquiries
  • “Where’s the…?”
  • “How do I find…?”

Giving directions

1. Start with a general location
   • “It’s on…” (e.g., “It’s on Main Street.”)
   • “It’s near…” (e.g., “It’s near the park.”)
   • “It is located…”
2. Use clear and concise language
   • Go
     • “Go straight ahead.”
     • “Go down this street.”
     • “Go past the…”
   • Turn
     • “Turn left at the corner.”
     • “Turn right at the traffic lights.”
     • “Take the first/second/third turning on the left/right.”
   • Giving distance
     • “It’s about a 5-minute walk.”
     • “It’s about two blocks away.”
     • “It’s quite far/near.”
   • Using landmarks
     • “It’s next to the bank.”
     • “It’s opposite the post office.”
     • “It’s behind the…”
3. Use prepositions of place
   • “on” (e.g., “on the corner”)
   • “in” (e.g., “in the building”)
   • “next to” (e.g., “next to the red building”)
   • “opposite” (e.g., “opposite the bank”)
   • “behind” (e.g., “behind the mall”)
   • “between” (e.g., “between the buildings”)
4. Give easily visible landmarks
   • “You’ll see a big red building.”
   • “Look for the statue.”
   • “It is at the intersection of…”
5. Confirm and offer further assistance
   • “Do you understand?”
   • “Is that clear?”
   • “Let me know if you get lost.”
   • “You can’t miss it.”

Example dialogue

• Tourist: “Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the museum?”
• Random person: “Sure. Go straight ahead on this street for two blocks, then turn left at the traffic lights. You’ll see the museum on your right. It’s next to a large park.”
• Tourist: “Thank you. Is it far?”
• Random person: “No, it’s about a 5-minute walk.”
• Tourist: “Great, thanks again.”
• Random person: “You’re welcome.”

More helpful phrases

Starting and giving general direction

• “It’s located…”
• “You’ll find it…”
• “It’s in the direction of…”
• “It’s about…” (e.g., “It’s about a 5-minute walk.”)
• “You’re going the right/wrong way.”
• “Start by going…”
• “First, you’ll want to…”

Movement and turns

• “Go straight ahead/down this street.”
• “Keep going until you see…”
• “Turn left/right at…” (e.g., “at the corner,” “at the traffic lights”)
• “Take the first/second/third turning on the left/right.”
• “Make a left/right turn.”
• “Go past…” (e.g., “Go past the post office.”)
• “Cross the street.”
• “Walk along…” (e.g., “Walk along the river.”)
• “Follow the signs for…”
• “Go through…” (e.g., “Go through the park.”)
• “Head towards…”

Landmarks and location

• “It’s on the left/right.”
• “It’s on the corner of…”
• “It’s next to…”
• “It’s opposite…”
• “It’s behind…”
• “It’s in front of…”
• “It’s between…”
• “You’ll see a…” (e.g., “You’ll see a big red building.”)
• “Look for…” (e.g., “Look for the statue.”)
• “It’s at the intersection of…”
• “It’s near…” (e.g., “It’s near the library.”)

Distance and time

• “It’s a short/long walk.”
• “It’s about a…minute walk/drive.”
• “It’s a few blocks away.”
• “It’s not far/quite far.”

Confirmation and clarification

• “Do you understand?”
• “Is that clear?”
• “Are you following me?”
• “You can’t miss it.”
• “If you get lost, just ask someone.”
• “Let me know if you need further assistance.”
• “Just to be sure,…”

Specific situations

• “Take the elevator to the…”
• “Go up/down the stairs.”
• “Enter through the main entrance.”