Giving Directions and Instructions
How to tell someone where to go and what to do in English — the imperative, plus the handful of direction words you actually need.
Directions are one of the first real conversations you will have in English, and they use a grammar of their own: the imperative.
The imperative
Drop the subject and use the bare verb.
- Turn left at the lights.
- Go straight on.
- Don't take the first exit. (negative: don't + verb)
There is no you, and no to. That is the whole form.
The direction words
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go straight on / ahead | continue, do not turn |
| turn left / right | change direction |
| take the second right | the second turning on the right |
| go past the bank | continue beyond it |
| go through the park | enter and come out the other side |
| go over / under the bridge | across the top / beneath |
| it's on your left | you will see it on that side |
| opposite the station | facing it, across the road |
| next to / between | beside / in the middle of two things |
| at the corner | where two streets meet |
| at the end of the road | the far end |
Asking
- Excuse me, how do I get to the station?
- Is there a pharmacy near here?
- Which way is the museum?
- Is it far? — About ten minutes on foot.
Start with Excuse me. Without it, the question sounds abrupt.
Softening an instruction
The bare imperative is fine for directions, but for asking someone to do something it can sound like an order. Add a softener:
- Could you turn left here, please?
- Just go straight on.
A worked example
Excuse me, how do I get to the library? — Go straight on, take the second left, and it's on your right, opposite the school. It's about five minutes.
Four instructions and one landmark. That is a complete set of directions.
Test yourself
The quiz below checks the imperative form and the direction phrases.