Learn the language you can use when asking for and giving directions.
Jackie
Hello. Welcome to bbclearningenglish.com. I’m Jackie Dalton. Today’s programme is all about giving and understanding directions.
Our reporter Helen is new to London and has been out asking people for directions to various different places. We’ll take a look at some of the key phrases that come up as she tries to find her way around. Let’s start with a simple one.
EXAMPLE
Helen
Can you tell me how to get to the nearest toilet, please?
Woman
To the nearest toilet? Yes – you just go down the stairs here, turn right and it’s just on your right.
Jackie
Nice and easy. Turn right or turn left – a simple way of telling people in which direction they should go. And if you want to describe the position of a particular place in relation to the person you can say it’s on your right, or on your left. Let’s listen to that clip once more.
EXAMPLE
Helen
Can you tell me how to get to the nearest toilet, please?
Woman
To the nearest toilet? Yes – you just go down the stairs here, turn right and it’s just on your right.
Jackie
Now listen out for a slightly different way of telling someone to turn left or right.
EXAMPLE
Helen
Can I ask you how to get to the nearest bus stop please?
Man 1
Just go straight to the bottom there. Just take a left turn.
Man 2
Take a left turn and that’s it.
Man 1
Yeah, it’s just round the corner.
Jackie
That’s another way of telling someone to go in a particular direction. Earlier we heard the phrase turn right or turn left; you could also say take a left or take a left turn.
A word that’s already come up five times is just. Listen to how it’s used.
EXAMPLES
Woman
Yes – you just go down the stairs here, turn right and it’s just on your right.
Man 1
Just go straight to the bottom there. Just take a left turn –
Man 2
Take a left turn and that’s it.
Man 1
Yeah, it’s just round the corner.
Jackie
Just is a sort of filler and a way of suggesting that what the person has to do isn’t difficult; just go down the stairs somehow sounds easier than go down the stairs. Listen again.
EXAMPLES
Woman
Yes – you just go down the stairs here, turn right and it’s just on your right.
Man 1
Just go straight to the bottom there. Just take a left turn –
Man 2
Take a left turn and that’s it.
Man 1
Yeah, it’s just round the corner.
Jackie
One thing that can be confusing when it comes to directions is the use of the word right. Listen to this clip. The word right is used in three different ways.
EXAMPLE
Helen
Do you know how to get to Covent Garden?
Man
Yeah, yeah. You just go – at the end of the street, go left and then go right and take the second right around the Aldwych theatre. Go right up there, then go left and Covent Garden Market will just be right in front you. You just walk down.
Jackie
Let’s break that down.
EXAMPLE
At the end of the street, go left and then go right.
Jackie
Simple enough: go right means the same as turn right or take a right. What about here?
EXAMPLE
Around the Aldwych theatre. Go right up there, then go left.
Jackie
Go right up there could be interpreted in two different ways and even a native English speaker could get confused here. The man could have meant turn right, or he could have meant go all the way up there. Go right up there – go all the way up there. We say things like go right to the end of the road to mean go all the way to the end of the road – very different from taking a right turn. A clue is often in the prepositions. If you’re telling someone to turn, it often comes with the preposition at. For example, Go right at the main road. Whereas the preposition up – Go right up the main road – tends to mean go all the way up the main road. If you’re not sure, just ask. So that’s two different uses of right. What about the third?
EXAMPLE
And Covent Garden Market will just be right in front of you.
Jackie
Covent Garden will just be right in front of you. He could also have said Covent Garden will be directly in front of you or immediately in front of you – it’s not far away. Right in front of you in this context means it’s not far away.
Let’s listen to the next set of directions. Listen out for an expression in this clip which means it’s very easy to see.
EXAMPLE
Helen
I was wondering if I could ask you how to get to the nearest tube station?
Man
Err, you could use Holborn tube station, which is straight down Oxford street. Turn right and keep going up Kingsway and you won’t miss it – it’s on the right.
Jackie
Did you spot the expression? You won’t miss it is a nice way of saying it’s very easy to see. Now listen to the beginning of this sentence:
EXAMPLE
Keep going up Kingsway and you won’t miss it.
Jackie
Keep going is a good way of telling someone they will have to walk or drive for a while before they get to a certain point.
Let’s end with a couple of questions to check you’ve understood some of today’s language.
Which is correct?: The building is at your right, or, The building is on your right?
The second is correct: we use the preposition on. The building is on your right.
Which of these would be a correct way of telling someone to turn left?: Take a left, or, Have a left?
The first one is correct: Have a left doesn’t make sense – Take a left is fine.
Which of these phrases means turn right?: Go right to the end of the road, or, Go right at the end of the road?
The second one, with the preposition at, means turn right. Go right up the road usually means go all the way up the road.
That’s all for now, but keep practising your English with our quizzes, games and programmes on www.bbc-story.com
Language for asking directions
Can you tell me…
- the way to the (nearest) post office?
- the way to the bus stop?
- the way to Trafalgar Square?
Do you know…
- how to get to the (nearest) toilet?
- how to get to Covent Garden?
- how to get to Bush House?
Language for giving directions
Left
- Go left.
- Turn left.
- It’s on the left.
- Take a left.
- Take the second (turning) on the left.
Right
- Go right.
- Turn right.
- It’s on the right.
- Take a right.
- Take the second (turning) on the right.
Ahead
- Go ahead.
- Go straight ahead.
- Go straight on.