A1 · Beginner · City · 109 words · ~2 min read

🧭 Asking for Directions

Language focus: Imperatives · prepositions of place

Before you read

Every instruction here is an imperative, and imperatives are the simplest useful sentences in English: no subject, just the base verb. Notice that this makes them short and direct rather than rude, and see how the negative is formed.

A tourist asks Sam for help. “Excuse me, is the museum nearby?” “Yes, it is very near. Walk to the corner and carry on for a minute.”

“Go straight on. At the traffic lights, turn left. Then take the second exit at the roundabout.”

“There is a crossing near a tall signpost. The museum is opposite the park.”

The tourist repeats the directions. “So, straight on, then left at the traffic lights?” “That is right,” says Sam. “Do not turn before the lights.”

“It is about five minutes on foot. Look for the tall glass building — the museum is behind it.” The tourist thanks Sam and walks away.

Key vocabulary (8 words)

cornernoun: The place where two streets meet.
straightadverb: In one direction, without turning.
oppositepreposition: On the other side, facing something.
roundaboutnoun: A round junction where cars drive around.
traffic lightsnoun: Red, amber and green lights that control cars.
crossingnoun: A safe place to walk across the road.
signpostnoun: A sign that shows the way to places.
nearbyadjective: Close; a short distance away.

Phrasal verbs in this story

carry on — To carry on means to continue doing something.

The grammar in this story

The imperative has no subject

Walk to the corner. Go straight on. Turn left. Take the second exit. There is no you, and the verb is in its base form with no ending. This is why directions, recipes and signs sound so compact in English.

The negative is “do not” + verb

“Do not turn before the lights.” To make an imperative negative, put do not (or don’t) in front of the base verb. It works for every verb without exception: don’t go, don’t worry, don’t forget.

Adding please keeps it polite

An imperative on its own is neutral, which is fine for directions. In a request to a person, add please or turn it into a question: Turn left, please, or Could you turn left? The bare imperative is normal from a police officer or a recipe, less so when asking a favour.

The prepositions do the real work

The museum is opposite the park and behind the glass building; the crossing is near a signpost. Change one preposition and you send someone to the wrong street. Learn opposite, behind, in front of, next to and between as a set.

Phrases you can reuse today

Excuse me, is the museum nearby?: Opening a request for directions politely.
Go straight on and turn left.: Two imperatives joined with and — the core of any direction.
It is about five minutes on foot.: On foot, not by foot. A fixed expression.
Sorry, could you say that again?: Essential when directions come too fast.

Comprehension quiz

What is the tourist looking for?
- The museum
- The hotel
- The market
Show answer
The museum
“Go straight on” is an…
- instruction (imperative)
- apology
- greeting
Show answer
instruction (imperative)
At the traffic lights, turn…
- left
- back
- around
Show answer
left
The museum is opposite the…
- park
- station
- river
Show answer
park
“Carry on” means to…
- continue
- stop
- turn back
Show answer
continue

Now use it yourself

Reading builds recognition; writing your own sentences is what turns it into something you can actually say. Three short tasks:

Give directions from your home to the nearest shop using four imperatives.
Write three don’t instructions you would give a visitor to your city.
Which is easier for you — giving directions or understanding them? Why?