Phrases in English about the road. How to give or ask for directions in English. Example: How to get from Tate Modern to St Paul's Cathedral in London

Hello ladies and gentlemen! It happens that even after purchasing several maps, turning on the navigator, and asking friends in detail how to get to the place we need, we realize that we are lost and do not know where we are. In this case, you need to learn how to ask the local population for directions in English. Residents of the city will also tell you the way to a good restaurant, museum or stadium. So learn how to ask for directions correctly with our audio lesson.

Remember also the similar audio lesson you completed? Finding your way around the city using English, which will also help you figure out directions in unfamiliar areas. In this audio lesson, you will learn how to ask for directions in detail - how many meters to drive or walk, what type of public transport is best to take, where, when and at what traffic light to turn to get to the destination you need.

Right now, start listening to an online audio lesson on the topic “ Asking for directions» in English with the most necessary phrases for finding out the direction and route of movement and learning the pronunciation of all expressions with the correct English accent: /wp-content/uploads/2014/07/RUEN040.mp3 Use the audio recording of the lesson to practice listening and speaking. After all, these are the main components of successful mastery of foreign spoken language. Only the practice of listening to the speech of native speakers and the practice of communicating in English will help you learn to speak English.

Finding out the way in English

Reading is also an important step in learning a foreign language, so study the table carefully and note the differences between the spelling and pronunciation of some words in British and American English. Train your speed reading skills and pronounce each sentence several times with different intonation and semantic emphasis on individual words in the sentence.

Asking for directions
English	Russian
Excuse me!	Excuse me, please!
Can you help me?	Can you help me?
Is there a good restaurant around here?	Where is a good restaurant here?
Take a left at the corner	Go left, around the corner
Then go straight for a while	Then walk straight a little
Then go right for a hundred meters/meters (am)	Then walk a hundred meters to the right
You can also take the bus	You can also take the bus
You can also take the tram	You can also take the tram
You can also follow me with your car	You can also just follow me
How do I get to the football/soccer (am) stadium?	How do I get to the football stadium?
Cross the bridge!	Cross the bridge!
Go through the tunnel!	Drive through the tunnel!
Drive until you reach the third traffic light	Drive to the third traffic light
Then turn into the first street on your right	Then turn right as soon as possible
Then drive straight through the next intersection	Then go straight through the next intersection
Excuse me, how do I get to the airport?	Excuse me, how do I get to the airport?
It is best if you take the underground/subway (am)	Better take the metro
Simply get out at the last stop	Drive to the final station

Feel free to ask for directions, even if you are not fluent in the language. Local residents are accustomed to foreigners, and no one will reproach you for saying the wrong phrase. And keep in mind that in different versions of English, sometimes words differ radically from each other. For example, “underground” and “subway” have completely different lexical compositions, but they mean the same thing - subway or metro.

Remember: it is better to ask for directions incorrectly than to go in the wrong direction. Good luck! See you later!

Have you often gotten lost on the streets of an unfamiliar city abroad in your life? Or maybe you were asked in English how to get to such and such an address, but you didn’t know what to answer? Let's correct this unacceptable mistake once and for all and learn how to correctly ask for directions on a car, and also learn how to give hints to other people who find themselves in a difficult situation.

Everyone who has ever traveled has probably tried to ask for directions in English. However, not everyone knows how to ask for directions in order to be fully understood by foreigners. In addition, when we are suddenly asked in English how to get somewhere, it is also not always possible to remember the right words. However, it's all about a few phrases that you just need to remember.

We give directions in English

The picture shows the main directions of movement with translation:

Go straight on until you come to a crossroads. - Go straight to the intersection.

Turn left into Gordon Street. - Turn left onto Gordon Street.

Take the next left. - The next turn is left.

Take the second road on the left . - On the second road, turn left (second lane).

Turn right at the traffic lights. - Turn right at the traffic light.

It's opposite the church. - It's opposite the church.

It's next to the bank. - It's next to the bank.

It's between the school and the shop. - It's between the school and the store.

It's at the end of the road. - It's at the end of the road.

It’s on the corner of Market Street and Baker Street. - It's on the corner of Market and Baker Streets.

It's just behind this building. - It's behind this building.

It's in front of the school. - It's in front of the school.

It's just around the corner. - It's around the corner here.

It's on the left/right. — It (is) on the left/right.

It's around the corner.- It's around the corner.

It is better if you take a taxi. - It's better to take a taxi.

It’s 500 meters from here. — It's 500 meters from here.

Bank Street is parallel with this street. - Bank Street is parallel to this street.

Penny Street is perpendicular to this street. - Penny Street is perpendicular to this street.

It's four blocks down the street on this side of the road. - It's four blocks down this side of the street.

Turn right at the roundabout. - Turn right at the road roundabout.

Asking for directions: useful expressions

Use these template phrases to ask for directions in an unfamiliar place:

I'm trying to get to the museum. - I'm trying to get to the museum (I need to find my way to the museum).

Do you know where the post office is? - Do you know where the post office is?

What’s the best way to get to the train station? - What is the best way to get to the railway station?

Can you give me directions to the nearest bus stop? — Can you indicate the direction to the nearest bus stop?

How do I get to the train station? — How to get to the railway station?

Where can I find the nearest bakery? — Where can I find the nearest bakery?

How can I get to the bank? — How to get to the bank?

Where is the hospital? —Where (is) the hospital?

Don't forget to be polite:

Exuse me, how can I go to the library? - As an excuse to go to the library?

Exuse me, is there a supermarket near here? — Excuse me, is there a supermarket somewhere nearby?

Pardon me, I’m lost, how do I get to the library? - Sorry, I'm lost, how do I get to the library?

Could you, please, tell me how to get to the computer store? — Could you tell me how to get to the computer store?

Dialogue on the topic

If the presented material seems insufficient to you, I suggest moving on to a dialogue on the topic of orientation in English. Here you will find many additional phrases about how to ask for directions or help someone by indicating the direction of travel.

Fill in the gaps in the sentences with the following words: east, bank, school, roundabout, third, church

The dialogue is quite interesting and simple, so try to translate it yourself. Moreover, you received enough tips in this lesson, so you can use them when translating.

Lenny: Excuse me, I’m trying to find a pub called the Cock & Bull. Could you point me in the right direction?

George: Ah... the Cock & Bull. I know it well. Excellent pub.

Lenny: Oh, great. I’m new to the city and I’m supposed to meet a friend there, but I haven’t got a clue where I am.

George: Right. Go straight ahead. Then, take the (1) _______ road on your left. That's Queen Street. Follow it until you pass a (2) ________, and then… No, hang on. That's not right.

Lenny: Oh, I can ask someone else if you’re not sure.

George: No, no. I know London like the back of my hand... OK. Ignore everything I just said. From here, you want to get onto Charles Street, which is parallel to this street. Then walk (3) _____________ about 500 meters until you see an old (4) _______. Turn right at the church and… Wait a minute…

Lenny: I’ve got a map here…

George: I don't need a map. I've lived here all my life. And the Cock & Bull isn’t far. Excellent pub, by the way. They do a fantastic steak and kidney pie… Or was it steak and mushroom? Anyway. Go about four hundred meters that way and when you get to a (5)____________, hang a left. Walk for another two minutes and you’ll see a (5)_________ on the opposite side of the road. The pub is just next to the bank. You can't miss it.

Lenny: Great! Thank you!

George: No, hold on… That’s where the pub used to be. It moved 15 years ago.

Lenny: Maybe I should ask someone else.

George: No, no, I’m your man. I practically live at the Bear & Bull.

Lenny: You mean the Cock & Bull.

George: No, the Bear & Bull.

Lenny: I'm trying to get to the Cock & Bull.

George: The Cock & Bull? No idea! Never heard of it! Goodbye!

This is how dialogues in our lives can take place in such a funny way. In any case, this dialogue showed us how to give directions in English in real life, as well as how to ask passers-by for directions. As you can see, passersby cannot always help, so you need to be more patient and not despair.

Even with modern technology, it is important to know. Today we will look at several options that can be used during your holiday abroad. And, of course, you can’t do without a set of helper phrases that are needed to figure out where to go after a conversation with a foreigner.

Options for asking for directions in English

Below we will look at some ways how to ask for directions in English. I recommend remembering several options, then at least one will 100% pop up in your memory, and you will be able to get the information you need.

how to ask for directions in English	translation
How can I get to the city center?	How do I get to the city center?
Is there a bus stop near here?	Is there a bus stop nearby?
How to get to the airport?	How to get to the airport?
Could you tell me where the city center is?	Could you tell me where the city center is?
Could you explain how to find a bus stop?	Can you explain how to find a bus stop?
Is the airport far from here?	Is the airport far from here?
I'm looking for a bank. Can you help me?	I'm looking for a bank. Can you help me?

Whatever offer you choose, it is always better to start your appeal with excuse me, to attract the attention of the interlocutor.

Let's see what phrases can be heard in response to one of the above questions. Most likely, at the very beginning of the sentence you will hear the verb go(go) or turn(turn), and then the direction.

go straight ahead - go straight ahead

go down the street - go down the street

go up the street - go up the street

go along the street - go along the street

turn left – turn left

turn right - turn right

cross the road - cross the road

it’s next to – this is near...

it’s on the left - this is on the left

it’s on the right - this is on the right

How to ask for directions in English. Dialogue

If you need an example of how to ask for directions in English, then I bring to your attention a dialogue on this topic.

dialogue	translation
A: Excuse me. Is there a restaurant near here?	A: Sorry. Is there a restaurant nearby?
B: Sure. It's not very far.	B: Certainly. He's not very far away.
A: How can I get there?	A: How can I get there?

Hello dear students, we continue the series of lessons from the audio course “Conversational English for Beginners”! Today we will continue to understand how a traveler can avoid getting lost in the concrete jungle and find out the right direction of travel. During this audio lesson, you will learn how to ask a question correctly in order to find out the right direction, and you will also learn the translation of the most common answers to these questions.

When they ask us how to get, for example, to the Bolshoi Theater, we do not say - go to such and such a street, then turn into such and such a lane, then reach the street... We express ourselves in other words: walk 100 meters straight, then turn left, then straight and right again. These words are called adverbs of direction. And in English they will tell us the right direction with the same words and phrases.

Therefore, it is very important to know not only the pronunciation of questions, but also how the answers sound, indicating the direction of our movement, so as not to get lost in a big city and get to our destination. Listen carefully to every word of the sixth lesson of the audio course “Conversational English for Beginners”: /wp-content/uploads/2014/08/les-06.mp3 Listen to the lesson several times and try to repeat the exemplary pronunciation of the specialist speaker.

Text of the lesson “Direction in English”

In this lecture, you will learn English vocabulary on the topic “Direction” and learn how to find out, ask how to get to or get to the place you need. Read the key phrases of this audio lesson several times and clearly say each expression from the table out loud, based on the audio recording:

Phrase in Russian	Translation into English
Where is … ?	Where is...?
It is far?	Is it far?
It's nearby?	Is it near?
Go...	Go...
Turn...	Turn...
Go there	Go that way
Go straight	Go straight ahead
Go back	Go back
Turn left	Turn left
Turn right	Turn right
Turn around	Turn around
Street	The street
At the end of the street	At the end of the street
First left turn	The first left
On the corner	On the corner
Second right turn	The second right
Near …	Next to…
Hotel	The hotel
A park	The park
Traffic light	The traffic light
Bus stop	The bus stop
Crossroads	The intersection
Metro station	The subway station

Having learned these few phrases, you can easily build a conversation and understand an English-speaking interlocutor.

Watch all audio lessons of the Conversational English course to communicate without borders with local residents in English.

Hello, dear listeners and readers! We continue slowly. But it’s true to master the series of audio lessons “That’s what they say in America,” and along with the course, the spoken English of ordinary Americans. During today's lesson, you will learn ask directions and also explain directions, how to get or get to the place you or someone else needs in American English. Ask for directions and give directions in English

In a foreign city, it is sometimes very difficult to find a certain street or building, but, as they say, language will take you to Kyiv, and in our case, to Washington. Do not hesitate to ask passers-by how to get to or get to the place you need, and do not refuse to help other foreigners if they ask you for directions. And in order to be able to ask or explain correctly, today you will learn a lot of new and useful vocabulary in English.

As always, we start with Martin Lerner talking to other characters. This time, our good friend, Voice of America reporter Martin, walks the American streets and, asking questions, tries to figure out how to get to the Museum of Fine Arts, asking directions from several passers-by. Let's find out what the strangers answer him, and whether he managed to find out how to get to the museum:

Martin: Excuse me, where is Art Museum? - I'm sorry, where is it?
Male 1: Sorry. I don't know. - Sorry. I don't know.
Martin: Where is the Museum? — Could you tell me where the Museum of Fine Arts is?
Female 1: Go straight ahead. - Go straight ahead.
Martin: Excuse me, where is the Art Museum? — Excuse me, can you tell me where the Museum of Fine Arts is?
Female 2: It's on the river. It's on the Jefferson Street. — It is located on the river bank. It is located on Jefferson Street.

As you can see, it is easier for women to make contact, unlike men. And with the help of two strangers, Martin managed to find out where the place he needed was located.

Remember also the online lesson Finding out who is doing what

Use the audio recording of the lesson to hear how ordinary Americans pronounce the dialogue and hear other words and phrases in English. Pay attention to the intonation with which Lerner asks passers-by for directions: /wp-content/uploads/2014/09/russian_english_006.mp3

When listening to how Americans pronounce words, repeat all the expressions after them to practice your own pronunciation. Follow A. Fillipova's instructions to master the lesson step by step.

Asking for directions in English

Using a convenient table with phrases in English and translation into Russian, today you will learn new expressions, question words, as well as some grammatical categories of words: verbs, nouns, pronouns, adverbs, prepositions.

Ask and explain
Phrases
I'm sorry	Sorry. I'm sorry
Sorry. Sorry	Excuse me
Verbs
ask	ask
go	go
come	come
turn	turn
Verb + negative particle + know
written form - in written speech	I don't know
spoken - in oral speech	I don't know
Nouns
building	building
museum	museum
director	director
river	river
Adverbs
left	left
right	right
down	downstairs
up	upstairs
directly	straight ahead
there	there
Prepositions
over there	over there
on: on the river bank	on: on the river
Pronouns
It: It’s on the river	he, it, this: He is on the river
Question words
Where	where

You may have noticed that some words and even entire expressions can be translated differently, but in context these lexemes are very similar and can be interpreted as indicated in the table. Be sure to save and memorize this table!