How to Give and Get Directions in English
Ask for Directions
Do you know where I can find the station?
How do I get to the library from here?
Would you happen to know where the post office is?
Could you please tell me how to get to the park?
When You Don’t Know How to Give Directions
I’m sorry, I’m not from around here.
I have no idea, sorry.
I’m not sure, you’d better ask someone else, sorry.
Textbook English
Go straight down this street
Head down that way
Just along here
Just go down here
Follow this street
Head up there
Head this way
It’s basically that way
Turn right at the traffic lights
What We Really Say
Take a right at the lights
Hang a right at the intersection
Make a right at the lights
Take the road on the right
Make sure you go right at the first big corner
Continue going straight ahead until you reach Main Street
Continue on ’til you get to Main, which is the one with the bank on the corner
Keep going ’til you hit the intersection at Main
You’re gonna wanna keep going ’til you see the bank at the traffic lights
Don’t stop until you get to the coffee shop with the red roof, which is next to the bank
You’re gonna go about 2 blocks ’til you hit Main Street
Then it is the building on the left
You’ll know it, it’ll be the one on the left with the green sign
Then you’re gonna see it on the left opposite the bank
It’ll be on the left, and if you get to the gallery you’ll know you’ve gone too far
Now that you’ve watched the video and learned some new language, it’s time to practice!
Today I want you to practice giving me directions. Use the map below and use some of the language you’ve learned to tell me how to get from Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.