Goal
You’ll be able to ask for and understand basic directions, including common location prepositions and direction words.
Learn
To ask for directions: Excuse me, how do I get to the train station? or Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Common direction words and phrases: turn left, turn right, go straight, cross the street, it’s on the corner, it’s next to the bank.
Go straight, then turn left at the corner. The station is on your right. A genuinely important listening skill: direction-giving typically uses a specific sequence of imperative-form instructions (turn, go, cross — command form, no subject), followed by a final location description. Understanding directions in real conversation means following this sequence step-by-step, not just recognizing individual words — missing one step (like which corner to turn at) can mean genuinely not finding the destination, even if you understood every individual word.
Decision Task
Someone gives you directions: Go straight, then turn left at the corner. The station is on your right. Before reading on: how many separate action steps do you need to follow, in order, to actually find the station?
Show Answer
Three steps, in order: (1) go straight, (2) turn left at the corner, (3) look for the station on your right. Missing or misremembering any one of these three steps — especially their correct order — could mean not actually finding the station, even if you understood every individual word in the directions.
Common Mistake
Listening to directions for individual recognizable words without tracking the actual sequence and order of the steps. Real directions are a sequence — missing which step comes first, or confusing the order, can mean not finding the destination even when every individual word was understood correctly.
Practice Questions
1. How would you ask a stranger for directions to the train station?
Show Answer
Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?
2. What does go straight mean as a direction?
Show Answer
Continue in the same direction, without turning.
3. What does it’s on the corner describe?
Show Answer
A location at the intersection of two streets.
4. Why does understanding directions require more than recognizing individual words?
Show Answer
Directions form a specific sequence of steps that must be followed in the correct order; missing or misordering a step can mean not finding the destination, even with correct word recognition.
5. Write a direction phrase indicating a location next to a specific place.
Show Answer
Any correct example, e.g. It’s next to the bank.
Try It Yourself
Without looking back, write a short set of directions (2-3 steps) to a place of your choosing, using at least two direction words from this lesson.
Show Answer
Any correct example following the pattern, e.g. Turn right, then go straight. The store is on the corner.
Quick Check
1. How would you ask for directions to a location?
Show Answer
How do I get to…?
2. What does turn left mean?
Show Answer
Change direction to the left.
3. What does go straight mean?
Show Answer
Continue without turning.
4. What does it’s on the corner mean?
Show Answer
Located at a street intersection.
5. Why does the order of direction steps genuinely matter?
Show Answer
Missing or misordering a step can mean not finding the destination, even if each word was understood.