Giving directions – A2 English Vocabulary

Giving directions

In this Pre-intermediate Vocabulary Lesson about Giving Directions, you will learn essential terms and phrases used to give directions clearly and effectively. The pictures, descriptions, and examples below will help you understand and remember the terms.

Directions

1 If you go past or you pass a building, traffic light, etc., you reach that point and continue going further.

• Go past the supermarket and keep driving straight.

2 If you go along a street, you follow that street in a certain direction.

• Go along Main Street for two blocks.

3 If you go up/down a street, you move in one direction (up) or the other direction (down) on a street.

• Go down Elm Street until you see the park.

4 If you go straight on/ahead, you keep moving forward without turning. You can also say go straight along + name of a street or road.

• Go straight on until you reach the traffic lights.
• Go straight along Winston Street for a few blocks, and you will see the park on your left.

5 If you stay on a street/road, you continue following the same street/road without turning off it.

• Stay on Pine Road until you get to the roundabout.

6 If you go through a tunnel, you travel into and come out of the other side of the tunnel.

• Go through the tunnel and continue straight.

7 If you go for two/three/etc. blocks, you continue traveling for the specified number of city blocks.

• Go for three blocks and then turn right.

8 If you walk/drive across a bridge, you travel over the bridge from one side to the other.

• Walk across the bridge and turn left at the end.

9 If you turn left, you change direction to your left.

• Turn left at the next intersection.

10 If you turn right, you change direction to your right.

• Turn right after the gas station.

11 If you take the first/second/etc. right/left, you make a turn at the first, second, or specified street on your right or left.

• Take the second right after the bank.

12 If you go to the end of the street, you continue traveling until the street finishes, or you can’t go further on that street.

• Go to the end of the street and you will see the library on your right.

13 If you stay on a street or go up/down a street, etc. until you get to/come to/reach [location], you keep following the street until you reach the specified location.

• Stay on this street until you get to the hospital.

14 If you merge onto a road or the highway/motorway, you join the flow of traffic on the highway from an entrance ramp.

• Merge onto the highway and stay in the right lane.

15 If you exit a road or the highway/motorway at [exit number], you leave the road or highway by taking the specified exit ramp.

• Exit the highway at Exit 5 and turn left at the stop sign.

16 If you turn around, you change direction to face the opposite way from where you were going.

• We’ve missed the exit. We need to turn around.

Prepositions of location

While the previous section describes terms for movement and direction, this section focuses on prepositions that help describe the static location of places and objects. These prepositions are essential for indicating where something is situated.



1 We use the preposition at to describe a point near a location; for example, someone can be at the traffic light, at the intersection, at the traffic sign, etc.

• Turn left at the traffic sign to enter the parking lot.

2 We use the preposition near to describe a location that is close to another place, but not necessarily next to it.

• The pharmacy is near the train station.

3 We use across the street from or opposite to describe a location on the other side of the street from another place.

• The library is across the street from the park.
• The bank is opposite the supermarket.

4 We use the preposition between to describe a location that is in the middle of two other places.

• The cafe is between the bookstore and the supermarket.

5 We use the preposition next to to describe a location that is immediately on the right or left of another place.

• The bakery is next to the post office.

6 We use the phrase on the corner of to describe the location of a building or structure that is situated at the intersection of two streets.

• The pharmacy is on the corner of Main Street and 5th Avenue.

7 We use the preposition on + your/the right to describe the location of something that is on your right side.

• After you pass the bridge, the museum will be on your right.

8 We use the preposition on + your/the left to describe the location of something that is on your left side..

• After you pass the bridge, the museum will be on your right.

Asking for directions

Here are some different questions you can use to ask for directions:

How can I get to (the nearest) …?

• How can I get to the nearest petrol station?

Where’s the nearest …?

• Where’s the nearest grocery store?

Is there a … near here?

• Is there a pharmacy near here?

Could you tell me how to get to…?

• Could you tell me how to get to the post office?

After completing the exercises in this lesson on Giving Directions, you can use the unit’s Vocabulary Flashcards to revise and help you memorize the terms.