Giving Directions and Instructions

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 same form does four other jobs

Use	Example
recipes and manuals	Add the eggs. Stir for two minutes.
signs and notices	Keep left. Do not lean on the door.
warnings	Watch your step! · Mind the gap.
offers and encouragement	Have another biscuit. · Come in!

For a suggestion that includes you, use let's: Let's take the bus. The negative is Let's not walk — it's raining.

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
go along / follow this road	continue on the same street
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
at the roundabout / crossroads	where roads meet

Putting steps in order

Directions are a sequence, and English marks the sequence out loud: first, then, after that, when you get to…, finally.

• First go straight on. Then take the second left. When you get to the church, turn right.

Saying how far

• It's about two hundred metres.
• It's a five-minute walk. (note the singular minute before a noun)
• It's just around the corner. · It's a fair way — you're better off taking the bus.
• You can't miss it. (it will be obvious — a very common closing line)

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. Choose the level you need:

Direct	Polite	Very polite
Turn left here.	Could you turn left here, please?	Would you mind turning left here?
Send it today.	Please send it today.	Would you be able to send it today?

Just also softens: 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.

When you don't catch it the first time

A: Excuse me, which way is the station?

B: Go past the post office, then follow the road round to the left.

A: Sorry, could you say that again? Past the post office, and then?

B: Then left. Keep going and you'll see it on your right. You can't miss it.

Sorry, could you say that again? is the phrase to have ready — directions are usually given faster than you can process them.

Test yourself

The quiz below checks the imperative form and the direction phrases.