Summary of Giving and Understanding Directions in English
Mastering Giving & Understanding Directions in English
Introduction
Giving and following directions is a practical everyday skill. This lesson covers common street-map vocabulary (places in a town) and direction phrases you need to describe routes clearly. You'll learn location words (next to, opposite, on the left), directional verbs (go straight, turn left/right) and how to follow a simple map.
Definition: "Directions" are short spoken or written instructions that tell someone how to get from one place to another.
Key vocabulary: places on a street map
- park — a public green area for recreation
- school — a building where children learn
- restaurant — a place to eat
- café — a small place for drinks and light food
- museum — a building with historical or artistic exhibits
- bookshop / bookshop — shop selling books
- toy shop — shop selling toys
- pet shop — shop for pets and pet supplies
- clothes shop — shop for clothing
- shoe shop — shop for shoes
- supermarket — large shop selling food and other goods
- bank — place to handle money
- church / castle / flower shop — other typical town places
Definition: "Opposite" means directly across the street from something. "Next to" means immediately beside.
Basic direction phrases
- Go straight — continue forward along the road
- Turn left / Turn right — change direction onto a different street
- On the left / On the right — indicates side of the street where the place is
- Past or go past — go beyond a building or landmark
- At the corner / at the traffic lights — use these landmarks to show where to turn
Definition: "Past" means to move beyond a place on the route while continuing in the same direction.
Short examples
- "Go straight on past the school, then turn left at the shoe shop." — keep going beyond the school, then take the left turn where the shoe shop is.
- "The café is on the left, next to the pet shop." — when you arrive the café will be on your left and beside the pet shop.
Using the map: sample tasks and answers (model responses)
Below are model completions for typical map exercises. Use them to practice forming clear sentences.
Task: Fill in place words in sentences about the map
- There's a museum next to the park.
- There's a bookshop opposite the cinema.
- There's a bank next to the restaurant.
- There's a museum opposite the church.
- There's a park next to the school.
- There's a pet shop opposite the supermarket.
- There's a clothes shop next to the cinema.
Task: Complete directions (You are here ①)
- Excuse me, where's the CAFÉ, please?
- Go straight on past the school, turn right at the shoe shop. Go straight, the café is on the left, next to the pet shop.
- Excuse me, where's the TOY SHOP, please?
- Go straight on past the school, turn left at the bank. The toy shop is on the right, opposite the bookshop.
Now you are here ② 3. Excuse me, where's the SCHOOL, please?
- Go straight, turn left at the park. Go straight past the restaurant, the school is on the right, opposite the museum.
- Excuse me, where's the BANK, please?
- Go straight on past the restaurant and turn left at the castle. Go straight, the bank is on the right, next to the supermarket.
Note: The exact place words (museum, bank, castle) above match typical map positions. When you use a real map, check landmarks carefully before giving directions.
Comparing location words
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| next to | immediately beside | The café is next to the pet shop. |
| opposite | directly across the street | The museum is opposite the church. |
| on the left / right | side of the street | The bank is on the right. |
| past | go beyond while continuing | Go past the school, then turn. |
Practice dialogues (short role-plays)
- Tourist: "Excuse me, where is the supermarket?" Local: "Go straight on, turn right at
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Street Map Directions
Klíčová slova: Giving directions / Street map vocabulary
Klíčové pojmy: Know common map places (park, school, café, museum, shop)., Use ‘go straight’ to continue forward on a road., Use ‘turn left’ / ‘turn right’ at landmarks., Say ‘next to’ for immediate adjacency., Say ‘opposite’ for directly across the street., Include landmarks when giving turns (‘turn left at the shoe shop’)., Use ‘go past’ to indicate continuing beyond a landmark., Describe side: ‘on the left’ or ‘on the right’., Combine two landmarks for clearer directions., Check the map before answering True/False questions.