How to ask for and give directions in English

Summary

In this EngVid lesson, Adam teaches essential English for asking and giving directions. He covers key questions like 'How can I get to...?' and 'Where is...?', emphasizing the importance of indirect questions for politeness. Adam introduces prepositions of place and orientation words like 'north' and 'east'. He explains verbs for walking directions, using 'head', 'go', 'follow', 'turn', and for non-walkable distances, 'take the bus' or 'subway'. He also discusses using landmarks and the phrase 'You can't miss it' for clarity. The lesson is aimed at travelers and English learners.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The video aims to teach English speakers how to ask for and give directions effectively.
• 🧭 It's important to use polite and indirect questions when asking for directions, especially in countries like Canada.
• 🏢 Prepositions of place are crucial for understanding directions, including 'past', 'at the corner of', 'kitty corner', 'next to', 'near', 'not far from', 'in front of', 'behind', 'across the street from', and 'between'.
• 🌐 In North American cities, which often follow a grid system, cardinal directions like 'north', 'south', 'east', and 'west' are frequently used.
• 🧭 'Orientation' is key when navigating new cities; always try to figure out which way is north.
• 🚶‍♂️ For walkable distances, use verbs like 'head', 'go', 'follow', 'turn', 'take a right', 'make a left'.
• 🚌 When the destination is not walkable, instruct using public transportation terms like 'Take the number one line' or 'Take the number three bus'.
• 🚏 It's helpful to specify how many stops to go on public transport if the signs are not clear.
• 🏙️ Landmarks such as buildings, bridges, monuments, statues, and parks are often used to give directions and are easily recognizable.
• 🏁 The phrase 'You can't miss it' means the destination is very noticeable and hard to overlook.
• 🌐 English is widely spoken in tourist areas, so the directions given will often be in English, even in non-English speaking countries.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about how to ask for and give directions in English.

Why is it important to understand the verbs used in giving directions?

Understanding the verbs used in giving directions is crucial because they help clarify the actions one needs to take to reach a destination.

What are some common questions used to ask for directions?

Common questions include 'How can I get to...?', 'Where is something?', 'Can you tell me where something is?', and 'What's the fastest way to get to...?'.

Why is it suggested to use indirect questions when asking for directions in Canada?

Indirect questions are suggested in Canada because they are considered more polite and softer, fitting the cultural norms of communication.

What is the significance of prepositions of place in understanding directions?

Prepositions of place are significant because they indicate the relationship of one location to another, which is essential for comprehending and following directions.

What does the term 'grid' refer to in the context of city layouts?

In the context of city layouts, 'grid' refers to a street system where roads run parallel and perpendicular to each other, forming a pattern similar to a Tic-Tac-Toe map.

Why is it important to know the cardinal directions when navigating in North America?

Knowing the cardinal directions is important in North America because many cities are laid out on a grid system, making it easier to give and understand directions using north, south, east, and west.

What are some verbs commonly used when giving walkable directions?

Some verbs commonly used for walkable directions include 'head', 'go', 'follow', 'turn', 'take a right', 'make a left'.

How can you indicate that a place is easy to find using landmarks?

You can indicate that a place is easy to find by saying 'You can't miss it', which means the landmark or place is very noticeable and hard not to see.

What is the advice given for situations where the destination is not immediately clear?

The advice given is to get to a known landmark or a central location, such as a park, and then ask for further directions.

What is the purpose of using 'landmarks' when giving directions?

Using 'landmarks' helps make directions more recognizable and easier to follow by providing reference points that are easily identifiable.

Outlines

00:00

🗺️ Asking and Giving Directions

The speaker, Adam, introduces the topic of asking for and giving directions, particularly for travelers. He emphasizes the importance of using the correct verbs and questions to navigate effectively. Key questions include 'How can I get to...?' and 'Where is something?', with a note on politeness levels in different countries. The paragraph also covers indirect questions and the structure of noun clauses in English.

05:06

🌐 Understanding Prepositions of Place

Adam explains various prepositions of place such as 'past', 'at the corner of', 'kitty corner', 'next to', 'near', 'not far from', 'in front of', 'behind', 'across the street from', and 'between'. He also discusses the importance of orientation and understanding cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), especially in grid-based cities like those in North America.

10:06

🚶‍♂️ Verbs for Walking Directions

This section focuses on verbs used when giving walking directions. Adam covers 'head', 'go', 'follow', 'turn', 'take a right', 'make a left', and explains their usage in the context of grid and non-grid cities. He also mentions the importance of understanding street names and using landmarks to give clearer directions.

15:08

🚌 Directions Involving Public Transport

Adam discusses how to give directions when the destination is not walkable, involving public transport like buses and subways. He advises on specifying the number of stops and using landmarks to guide people. He also touches on the use of street names and relative directions, emphasizing the role of landmarks in making directions easier to follow.

🏞️ Using Landmarks and Final Directions

The final paragraph discusses the use of landmarks in directions, suggesting that once a person reaches a landmark, they should ask for further directions if needed. Adam also mentions the phrase 'You can't miss it', explaining that it means something is very noticeable. He concludes by encouraging viewers to practice these skills, especially when traveling, and invites them to engage with the content on www.engvid.com.

Keywords

💡Directions

Directions refer to the information given to someone to help them get from one place to another. In the video, the host emphasizes the importance of understanding and giving directions, especially for travelers. The script provides examples such as 'How can I get to the train station?' and 'Where is the museum?', illustrating the practical use of directions in navigating unfamiliar places.

💡Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place are words like 'at', 'on', 'in', 'past', 'next to', 'near', etc., which describe the relationship of an object or person to other objects or points of reference. The video script explains their significance in understanding and giving directions, such as 'Go past the first building' or 'on the corner of A Street and B Street'.

💡Indirect Question

An indirect question is a question phrased in a more polite or indirect manner, often used when asking for directions. The video script points out that instead of asking 'Where is the train station?', it's more polite to ask 'Can you tell me where the train station is?' or 'Do you know how to get to the train station?'

💡Landmarks

A landmark is a notable or distinctive object or feature that is used for navigation. In the context of the video, landmarks are used to simplify directions, such as 'Go past the National Bank building' or 'When you get to the park, cross the park and on the other side you will see'. They are essential for giving clear and recognizable directions.

💡Grid System

A grid system refers to the layout of streets in a city that run perpendicular to each other, forming a grid pattern. The video explains that in North America, cities often follow a grid system, making it easier to give directions using cardinal directions like 'north', 'south', 'east', and 'west'.

💡Orientation

Orientation is the awareness of the position of one object in relation to another, especially in terms of cardinal directions. The video script stresses the importance of knowing where 'north' is to navigate a city grid system effectively.

💡Cardinal Directions

Cardinal directions are the four main compass points: north, south, east, and west. The video script uses these directions to give clear instructions, such as 'Go north on Fifth Avenue' or 'Head east on Eighth Street'.

💡Transportation Lines

Transportation lines refer to the routes followed by public transportation systems like buses or subways. The video script mentions 'Take the number one line' or 'Take the number three bus' to indicate how to use public transportation to reach a destination.

💡Street Names

Street names are the designated titles given to roads or streets. The video script lists common types of street names such as 'Avenue', 'Road', 'Street', and 'Boulevard', which are crucial for understanding directions and navigating within a city.

💡Relative Directions

Relative directions are instructions that guide someone from one known point to another. The video script uses phrases like 'When you get to the intersection' or 'When you get to the mall' to provide further directions from a known landmark or point.

💡Verbs for Movement

Verbs for movement are action words that describe the act of moving from one place to another, such as 'head', 'go', 'follow', 'turn', 'cross', etc. The video script explains that understanding these verbs is crucial for both asking for and giving directions, as they describe the actions one must take to reach a destination.

Highlights

Introduction to asking for and giving directions

Importance of using polite language when asking for directions

Common questions for asking for directions

The structure of indirect questions in English

Use of prepositions of place in directions

Understanding 'kitty corner' and its usage

Difference between 'at the corner' and 'on the corner'

Importance of orientation and understanding grid systems

Use of cardinal directions in North America

Verbs used for walkable distances

Instructions for non-grid cities and following streets

Use of 'turn' and its variations in directions

How to give directions involving public transportation

Clarifying street names in directions

Using relative directions and landmarks

Advice on asking for directions at intermediate points

The expression 'You can't miss it' explained

Encouragement to use English for directions in tourist areas

Invitation to ask questions and engage with the community

Transcripts

Hi, everybody. Welcome to www.engvid.com. I'm Adam. In today's

video, I want to show you ways to ask for and give directions. For example, if

you're going to travel to another country; or travelers are in your city,

and they need some help — you can help them. It's a little bit of a beginner

lesson, so I'll speak a little bit more slowly. And I'm going to give you a set

of questions, I'm going to give you some vocabulary. And the most important thing

you need to understand is the verbs that you're going to have to use in order to

help somebody find their way. And I'll look at those in a moment. So, we're

going to start with the questions. Now, again, in English — just as in any other

language — there are many ways to ask for anything, really. Right? But these

are the main questions that you need to know, in order to get directions and in

order to understand someone who needs directions from you.

So, the more common... most common question is: "How can I get to..."

whatever place it is. "How can I get to the train station?", "How can I get to

the museum?", "How can I get to" whatever is a tourist attraction in a

city; your city, other cities, etcetera. Or, more direct: "Where is something?"

Now, a little bit, you have to keep in mind that if you're in certain

countries... for example, in Canada, you can't really go up to a person and say:

"Where is the train station?" Canadians are a little bit more polite, I guess

you could say; a little bit softer, so it's better to have an indirect

question, like this one: "Can you tell me where something is?" Or: "Can you

tell me how to get to?" Now, very important to remember: If you're asking

a direct question, like just the question: "Where is the place?" If

you're asking an indirect question, this is actually the question word: "Can" or

"Do". So, this is now turned into a noun clause. Right? So, then: "where

something is", and the "is" comes after the place you're going to. The "is"

comes before the place you're going to, so make sure you understand the correct

structure of the question. And... but, ideally, use the indirect question; it's

a little bit softer, a little bit more polite. So: "Can you tell me how to get

to the train station?", "Do you know where the train station is?" Or you can

use both of these clauses with either question. Now, another way to ask is:

"What's the fastest way to get to...?" You don't actually even have to use: "to

get". "What's the fastest way to the train station?" is okay. But "to get"

makes it a little bit more clear. And when you ask someone: "What's the

fastest way?" they understand that you want directions, and they will explain

to you how to get to the place. Now, very, very important that you study

these words. Okay? All of these are prepositions of place. You must

understand how they are used and when they are used in order to understand

directions. So, when someone is explaining it to you, they're going to

use all of these words; and a few other things that I'll mention in a moment.

So, I kind of ran out of room, so I put "past" at the top. But "past": "Go past

the first building, and the second building is the one you want." So,

"past" means, like, after — that's one. "At or on the corner of A Street and B

Street". "At the corner" means general area; "on the corner" means a specific

corner. But, again, that's a different lesson altogether. Both of these will

work just fine. "Kitty corner". So, "kitty corner" is basically when you

have a situation. So, you... you have an intersection. Okay? If something is

here, this is "kitty corner" — the opposite corner. This is simply across

the street. This is "kitty corner", when you're going in a diagonal. Okay? So,

that's important to remember. Not everybody uses this particular

expression, but some people might use it; it's good to understand it. "Next

to", so "next to"; "beside" — same idea. "Near". "Near" is a little bit vague, so

try not to use: "near" or "close to", but sometimes it's good enough, and

you'll understand why in a moment. "Not far from" — same. "In front of", "in

front of", "behind", obviously. "Across the street from". So, "across the street

from" something. "Between the bank and the library is the building you're

looking for." So, "between" two things. Make sure you always remember:

"Between", "and" go together, when you're talking about relationship of

place. "On the left" or "on the right". So: "If you're walking down the street,

you will see that store on your right; you will see that store on your left",

depending where it is.

Where are we? So, now, if you come to North America, for example — Canada, the

US — most of the cities here are based on a grid. A "grid" means that streets

go one, two, three, four; one, two, three, four. It's very much like a

Tic-Tac-Toe map; looks like. In Europe, streets go, like, bendy and winding, and

all over the place. So, in Europe, they don't really use: "to the north", "to

the east", "west", etcetera. In North America, they use this a lot because

it's much easier to explain: "Go north on Fifth Avenue, head east on Eighth

Street, and you'll get to where you're going." So, we use: "north", "east",

"south", and "west" a lot, so make sure you understand how these directions

work. Mainly, what you need to understand is: Where is north? So, when

you're standing on a street, always try to get an idea of: "Where is north?" and

then you know all the other ones. It's... this is called: "orientation".

So, when you go to a new city, become oriented with the layout of the... of

the map; of the grid. Always get a map, figure out: "Which way is north?" and

then you'll start to understand. So, "to the north" means in the direction of

north, "on the west side". So, sometimes somebody will say something is "at the

intersection", but you want to be more specific, so they'll... they will tell

you: "It's on the northwest side of the intersection", because there are four.

So, if they want to specify... For example, if you're looking for a store,

but the store doesn't have a sign on the street — it's inside a building, for

example — so you'll say: "The store is on the buil-... is inside the building

on the northwest corner, in the basement. Go there, and you'll find it

no problem." Okay? So, you must understand all of these words in order

to give and receive instructions and directions. Now, most importantly, you

have to get comfortable with the verbs. So, let's look at those next.

Okay. So, now, we actually get to the hard part; this is where people

sometimes get lost. Because, remember: If you are giving instructions, you can

stick to one or two verbs, and just use it over and over again, and people will

understand. But when you are the one asking for instructions, and you're

asking a native-English speaker, there's many ways to describe or to give

directions to describe how to get somewhere. So, be a little bit more

aware of all the different ways we can actually give you directions. So, we're

going to look at verbs. Now, mostly, we're going to start with anything that

is "walkable". What this means is you can actually walk to the place; it's not

very far. Some places are too far; you may need to take a bus, or a subway, or

a taxi, etcetera. So, if it's walkable, just give them very simple directions.

"Head" or "go". "Head" and "go" are both verbs, and they essentially mean the

same thing. "Head straight" — just basically go straight; means the same

idea. "Head up" or "down", and the name of the street, if you know the name.

Now, generally speaking — and again, in North America, where we have the grids —

everything is in a line. "Up" means "north", "down" means "south". We don't

really have "east" or "west". "East" or "west" — say: "east" or "west". So:

"Head up Fifth Avenue", "Head down Fifth Avenue", depending on the direction

you're going. Or: "Go down", "go up", "Head north on Fifth Street" or "Main

Street". Again, "north", "south", "east", "west". "Go past". "Go past the

National Bank building", which you'll... you'll see easily because it's a

landmark, but I'll talk about that in a second. So, "head" or "go" — very

commonly used.

Some people also use the verb: "follow". So: "Follow this street until you get

to", but, again, that's a little bit more tricky because... especially if...

if streets are straight and all that, that's fine. This is a little bit more

common in non-grid cities. So: "Follow this street" because this street bends,

so just stay on the street and follow the bends until you get to somewhere.

"Follow until", and then whatever is going to come up. Then there's: "turn".

You can: "turn left", "turn right", "turn eastward" — means in the direction

of east — "turn south". You can say: "south" or "southward"; "east" or

"eastward". Both okay. Now, you could also say: "Take a right", "make a left".

These are only for left and right, that's why I put them in brackets. You

can't say: "take south", "take eastward" — that doesn't work. "Take a right"

basically means turn right. "Make a left" basically means turn left. This is

especially for driving. So, if you're driving and somebody is sitting next to

you and giving you instructions, they'll say: "Okay. Take a left over there. Make

a right at the next street" or "turn" — also okay.

Now, if the place you're going to is not walkable; is not within walking

distance, then you have to give some more instructions. So, "Take the number

one line" or "number ten line", or whatever the... if there's a name for

the subway line. Generally speaking, when we talk about "line", we talk

about... we're talking about subway or train, if it's above ground. "Take the

number three bus". I should put a "the" here. "Take the number three bus". Buses

have numbers, so we don't really use lines; we just say the number of the

bus. Now, you have to be very careful about giving directions with bus or

subway because in some countries, you might not be able to read the signs. If

you're coming to an English-speaking country — no problem; if you're going to

other places, but are still using English to get around, you might not

know the names. So, it's helpful if somebody tells you how many stops to go,

more or less. So: "Go five stops. Get off at the name of the station", if you

know it. Okay? Notice we use: "go" a lot. Now, sometimes you'll come to an

intersection or you'll come to a particular place where you're on the

wrong side — just "cross the street" or "go across the street", "go across the

intersection", "go across the park", whatever the case may be. Now, it's also

very important that you understand the differences between street names. We can

say: "Avenue", "Road", "Street", "Boulevard". These are the main names of

streets. There are smaller streets that you don't really need to worry about at

the moment; these are the main ones you're going to come across. So:

"Turn... turn south at Fifth Avenue", "turn left on Main Street". You can also

say: "onto". So, this is, again, more for driving: "Turn onto Main Street and

go straight" or "go east", whatever the case may be.

Now, sometimes they're going to give you relative directions. They're going to

tell you how to get to one place; and then from this place, they're going to

give you further directions. So: "When you get to the intersection", "when you

get to the mall", "when you get to the park, turn left", "go straight", "head

down", "look for". "Look for" is very, very useful because now we're

introducing "landmarks". "Landmarks" are things, or objects, or situations that

are very easy to see; very recognizable. The people who live in a place —

everybody knows what this place is, so it's easy to point out. Now, "landmarks"

can be "buildings"; and they're big, so they're easy to see. You can see them

from a distance. They can be "bridges" in some places, like in San Francisco:

"The Golden Gate Bridge" is a landmark. They can be "monuments" — these are

special constructions, like, to remember... to remember a war, or fallen

soldiers; or just a special person from history, like a president or a local

hero, etcetera. It could be "statues", it could be "plaques", it could be all

kinds of things. Some "parks" are "landmarks". If they're in the middle of

a city — there's only one big park — that's the one people will relate their

directions to, or any other landmark. So: "When you get to the park, cross the

park and on the other side you will see", and then... "So, if you're looking

for, then you will see this", or "look for the tall, brown building; and next

to that is the place you're looking for", for example.

Or if you know that a place is a little bit difficult to get to, what you want

to do is get the person moving in the general direction on the way to the

place, and then say: "Once you get to the park, ask... ask again. Ask somebody

else for directions." Because if I try to explain to you from here what to do

after you get to the park, you will be very confused. I'll just tell you: "Get

to the park", then somebody else will tell you what to do next. That's the

easiest way to do it. And when we... some people say: "You can't miss it."

Now, people have a lot of problem with this word. "Miss" doesn't mean, like,

something like: "Oh, you're longing for. It's gone from you; you... you miss it".

If your friend goes away for... from your city and you "miss" your friend —

that's one thing. Here, "miss" means not notice. So: "You can't miss it" means

it's impossible not to see it. And, again, we're talking about "landmarks".

So: "If you go to the park, go across the park; and you'll see a big, brown

building. You can't miss it. Once you see that big, brown building — go to the

left of it", "go to the right of it", "go behind" wherever the situation may

be. Okay?

So, there. There you go. Those are some key vocabulary and key expressions that

you need in order to give and understand directions. Okay? Very important if you

want to go traveling. And keep in mind: If you're going to tourist areas

anywhere in the world, people there speak English, so they will be giving

you these kinds of instructions. They've practiced doing this for the tourists.

Okay? And so that's it for today; just to get you started on directions. If you

have any questions about any of this, please go to www.engvid.com, and there's

a comment section you can ask me questions. I'll be happy to give you

whatever answers I can. There's also a quiz that you can try to understand what

we learned here today. And that's it. I hope you like this video. If you did,

please give me a like. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel, and ring the

bell for notifications of future videos. And come back next time; I'll give you

more useful tips to improve your English journey. I'll see you again soon. Bye.