Phrases in English how to get where it is. How to navigate the city in English: a simple phrasebook

How to give directions or find out directions in English?

Remember the situation: a foreigner comes up to you and asks how to get somewhere. You strain all your strength to extract at least some phrases from the depths of your consciousness, and spend a long time explaining to him the right path. He leaves, and you are left in doubt whether you managed to help him. This happens not because you don’t know how to get to the right point - you just don’t know what words to choose.
At first glance, it seems that explaining directions, especially in a foreign language, is extremely difficult. However, it is not. It's actually simple, and even easier than in Russian.

How to give directions in English?

All you need is a few verbs and a few prepositions.

Now let’s decide how to tell someone in English where to go. You can simply walk straight for a few blocks, or advise walking on the right or on the left side.

These sentences are grammatically correct, but native speakers will often say differently:

You can say the same thing, but even shorter:

You can advise going through something. For example, through an arch:
go through the arch - go through the arch. The preposition used here is through- through, through, which means passing through something, and an arch is precisely a through hole in a building.

This should not be confused with a similar case, which we will also translate into Russian as “through”, but here it will mean through something in the sense of “to cross”

We can use other prepositions with the verb go. For example, round:
go round this building- go around this building

Or around - to go around:
go around this building and you will see a subway station

You may also need to turn a corner:
go round the corner - turn around the corner

The second useful verb for moving is turn.

other verbs

If you go very far, you should be advised to use transport. To do this, use the following expressions:

You can say even more precisely if you need to get on or off the bus:
get on the bus - get on the bus
get off the bus - get off the bus

If you are on the metro, you may need to change from one line to another:
change to line 5 - change to the fifth line

For especially slow-witted public transport users, you can give special, more detailed instructions:
go down the escalator - go down the escalator
go up the escalator - go up the escalator

What should you say to a foreigner if you yourself are lost?

The very first word you need is excuse me, which means “sorry.” Every conversation should start with this:

Excuse me, sir! - if you are addressing a man
Excuse me, ma'am! - if you are addressing an older woman
Excuse me, miss! - if you are addressing a young lady
Excuse me, officer! - if you see a police officer, you can also ask him for directions

Very often the question arises, what is the difference between excuse me and sorry, and why it is impossible to use the second option in this situation.
The difference is significant, but very easy to remember.

Excuse me! - They are going to do something nasty to you. Used before treatment. Sorry! - They've already done something nasty to you. Used after an action has been completed.

Can you tell me the way to the central square? - Can you tell me how to get to the central square?

You can be super polite and use could instead of can:

Could you show me the way to the central square? - Could you tell me how to get to the central square? (same as in the previous example, but in a more polite form)

You can also simply ask how to get there:

How can I get to the central square? - How to get to the central square?
How do I get to the central square? - How to get to the central square? (option No. 2)

To understand the answer to a question, listen carefully and remember it. Most likely, your guide will use the words and phrases we covered at the beginning of the lesson, and you will easily get to where you need to go.

P Let's talk about the road. Knowing how to show the way is equally important. Whether you are driving a car or walking, flying on an airplane or finding your way around the city, you need to know how to ask for directions, how to help, if possible, a person get somewhere.

Once, during my school years, a foreigner approached me on Red Square, opened a huge map and with a meaningful look asked how to get to some metro station (I don’t remember exactly). I was confused, opened my eyes and behaved much like the people from the famous Lingualeo video.

In general, the topic of movements, spaces and routes has always been unfavorite for me, probably because of my zealous desire not to perceive maps in general and all sorts of routes. Spatial idiocy, that's what it's called. I perceive the path purely intuitively. All sorts of maps and diagrams drive me into unconscious anxiety and quiet horror.

Well, okay about me. So, expressions and words for orientation in space.

Turn left/right. - Turn right/left, or Turn to the left/right

Go straight/straight on. - Go straight.

Traffic lights. - Traffic light. No, no, these are not traffic lights.

Crossroads - crossroads.

Take the first turning / road / on your left / right. -Take the first turn / left. right.

You`ll see .- You will see

You`ll come .- You will come.

Go on for about 2 km .- Continue walking 2 kilometers.

Go on for 5 minutes. - Continue walking for five minutes

Landmarks. - Landmarks.

Often we need to talk about landmarks in space, the road. But we don’t know how the “transition” will happen. It's a shame, isn't it?

Taxi Rank. - Taxi rank.

Level crossing - Where the crossing paths of a train and an ordinary road meet. Something like this.

Underpass. Underground crossing.

Flyover/Overpass. Overhead passage

Zebra crossing. Where a pedestrian needs to go.

Tunnel. Tunnel

Crossroads. And again a crossroads.

Junction. Such as forks, road intersections, nodes.

Fork of the road. Fork. If you go to the left, you will become a little goat.

Roundabout. Roundabout Circulation!

Main road. The main road.

Lane. Alley.

Use prepositions of direction! A lot can be said about prepositions. I already said. But there is more!

Gopast= Pass by and leave behind.

Go across= Cross something

Go along= Walk along

Go straight on= Walk clearly straight

Go up= go / go up

Go down= Go down

Gothrough= Drive through a city or a tunnel. Through

Gooutof= Go out, leave.

It's in front of you = It's in front of you

It's opposite the bank = This is opposite the bank.

It's on the corner= It's on the corner.

Typical conversation “Where to go.”

Excuse me, I`m looking for a bank. Sorry, I'm looking for a bank

Go straight on. Take the second street on the right. You will see a shop at the corner. Pass the shop. Bank will be just opposite you. It`s a 5-minute walk.

Go forward. Turn right on the second street. You will see a store on the corner. Go through the store. The bank will be right in front of you. Walk for about 5 minutes.

Idioms with directions and road.

Put the carriage before the horse. Drive the horses forward. Rushing, doing things in the wrong order.

You always put the carriage before the horse! You're always in a hurry!

At the crossroads. At crossroads. For example, at the crossroads of fate. At the crossroads. When there is an important decision in life and you have to choose

It is often necessary to ask in English how to get to a place or where an object is located. In the article we looked at where all kinds of objects are located and what prepositions should be used to describe their location.

This article provides examples of questions and answers used to indicate direction ( directions ). These expressions will help you find your way in an unfamiliar city. They will also help if you use, for example, Google maps. At the end of the article there is an example of how to get from the Tate Modern Gallery ( Tate Modern ) to St. Paul's Cathedral ( Saint Paul Cathedral ) in London.

Example: How to get from Tate Modern to St Paul's Cathedral in London

Google built a path for us and gave us a clear explanation, however, we will present it in a more interesting conversational style, using transitional words and phrases to connect ( transition words and phrases ).

After leaving the Tate Modern, go right towardMillennium Bridge. This is a pedestrian bridge through which you pass over the Thames. Then you get to Peter's Hill. Saint Paul Cathedral is already visible ahead. Continue walking along Peter's Hill. Cross the Queen Victoria street. There is a traffic light at the crossroads. You have to press the button and wait for the green light. Then continue to move forward. Just on your left you will see the National Firefighters Memorial. Continue going straight ahead and finally you get St. Paul's Churchyard. The whole way is about 1 kilometer.

When you leave the Tate Gallery, walk straight towards the Millennium Bridge. This is a footbridge that takes you over the Thames. You will then come to Peter Hill. St. Paul's Cathedral is already visible ahead. Continue along Peter Hill. Cross Queen Victoria Street. There is a traffic light at the intersection. You have to press the button and wait for the green light. Then continue forward. You'll see the National Firefighters Memorial on your left. Continue forward and you will finally come to the courtyard of St. Paul's Cathedral. The entire path is about 1 kilometer.

Asking for directions

Excuse me. Sorry to bother you but I’m afraid I got lost. I'm looking for the Opera House. How do I get there?

I know this area quite well. So you have to go down the road that way and when you see the Napoleon monument you should turn left and follow the stone path.

Right. Is there a sign near the Theatre?

No, sorry. But I am sure you won’t miss it. It’s a beautiful marble building with columns. It’s next to the Art gallery, just opposite the fountains. If you need a box-office there you should take a lift to the basement level, then pass the cloakroom and walk straight down the aisle until you see the notice.

That seems quite far. Ok then. Thanks a lot. You've been really helpful. By the way is there a beach close to the Theatre? Could you tell me the way, please?

Actually it’s about 2 miles from the Opera House. You could catch a bus and the third stop will be yours.

I would rather go on foot. I enjoy walking and admiring the city architecture.

I see. Then you should go around the corner on your left, walk along King’s Road, cross the bridge and then take the second right at the traffic lights. You’ll see the exit to the beach in about half a mile.

OK. Thanks again. Hopefully I won't get lost again.

Have fun at the beach!

Sorry. I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm afraid I'm lost. I'm looking for the Opera House. How do I get there?

I know this area quite well. You need to follow the road over there, and when you see the Napoleon monument, you should turn left and follow the stone path.

Fine. Is there a sign near the theater?

No. Sorry. But I'm sure you won't miss it. This is a beautiful marble building with columns. It is located next to the Art Gallery, directly opposite the fountains. If you need the ticket office, you should take the elevator down to the ground floor, then pass the cloakroom and go straight down the hallway until you see the sign.

It seems quite far away. Fine. Thank you very much. You helped me a lot. By the way, is there a beach near the theater? Could you tell me the way?

Actually, it's about 2 miles from the Opera House. You could take the bus and the third stop would be yours.

I'd rather walk. I like to walk and enjoy city architecture.

It's clear. Then you need to turn the corner on the left, walk along King's Road, cross the bridge and then take the second right at the traffic lights. You'll see the beach access after about a half mile.

OK. Thanks again. I hope I don't get lost again.

I hope you have fun on the beach!

Dialogue "How to get to the theater?" (Asking for Directions) - 4.7 out of 5 based on 15 votes

On the eve of the World Cup, football fans from all over the world come to Moscow. Our capital is a big city, and it’s easy to get lost in it. How can we help a foreigner if he asks us how to get to the library? And what should we do if we ourselves find ourselves in the role of a foreigner, when in Paris, Venice or Berlin we need to find a specific place?

Today's article is about how to ask and give directions in English. So, let's begin.

1. How to ask for directions?

First, we attract the attention of a passerby using the phrase:

This is the same as the Russian "sorry" - a very polite way to ask a question to a stranger on the street.

Clarifying questions that may arise during the explanations:

Is it far?
Is it a long way?
How far is it?

How far is it?
How far is it?

2.1. How to explain the way?

But what should you do if you yourself explain to a foreigner how to get somewhere? Let's look at the words and expressions needed for this.

You can start your explanation with one of the following phrases:

You need to...
You need...

You have to...
You'll have to...

The quickest way is to go...
The fastest way is to go...

To indicate the direction of movement, use the following words:

a) go...("go")

• ...right"to the right, to the right"
• ...left"left, left"
• ...straight ahead"directly"
• ...down the street"down the street"
• ...up the street"up the street"

• ...along the street"along the street, along the street"

b) take("take, go, use, go along")

Use take with street names or transport:

Take the bus number 1.
Take bus number 1.

Take the Arbatskaya street.
Go By Arbatskaya street.

Can be used with transport " to" to indicate the destination of the path:

Take the metro to Borovitskaya station.
Drive by metro to Borovitskaya station.

Take the red line to Sportivnaya station.
Drive on the red line to Sportivnaya station.

Take the bus to the Arbatskaya street.
Drive by bus along Arbatskaya street.

c) turn... ("turn")

• ...right"right"
• ...left"left"

Turn right when you see a big sign.
Turn right when you see the big sign.

You need to turn left at the corner.
You need to turn left at the corner.

d) stop + at("to stop before something")

Stop at the traffic lights.
Stop at the traffic light.

Stop at the cafe and go into the alley.
Stop near the cafe and go into the alley.

e) pass ___("pass by")

On your way you will pass a church.
On the way you will pass by a church.

Pass a supermarket and turn right after it.
Walk past the supermarket and turn right after it.

f) cross the road("cross the road")

You need to cross the road and turn right.
You need to cross the road and turn right.

Cross two roads and turn left.
Cross the two roads and turn left.

2.2. How to divide the proposal?

If your instructions take a long time, you will need special words with which you can connect the commands:

Words that can be used to connect instructions:

2.3. How to end the explanation?

All our explanations must lead to the fact that at the end of the path a person will find exactly the place he is looking for. As a final phrase you can use, for example:

2.4. How to name urban objects in English?

In this table I have collected the main words denoting typical urban objects. You can use them as guidelines in your explanations.

3. What to do if you don’t know the road yourself or it’s difficult to explain?

It also happens that a foreigner takes us by surprise in an unfamiliar part of the city. In this case, you should politely apologize:

You could ask the policeman/the bus driver/...
You can ask the policeman/bus driver/...

Follow me. I'll show you the way.
Follow me. I'll show you the way.

I can draw you a map. Do you have any paper?
I can draw you a map. Do you have paper?

I can show it on my navigator. Just a moment...
I can show you on the navigator. Wait a minute...

I hope you found this article helpful and helped you understand how to give and receive instructions when traveling around town. Enjoy your travels and don’t be afraid to communicate with foreigners on the streets of Moscow!