Giving Directions- Free and Controlled Speaking

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(Main) entrance

Useful phrases for asking for and giving directions

Tick off phrases below as you use them, trying to use at least one new one each time.

Starting the conversation

Excuse me. (Can you help me?)

Sorry to disturb you. (I’m a bit lost.) (Do you work here?)

Asking for directions

Is there a/an … (around/ near) here?

Do you know the way to…?

Do you know how to get to…?

Do you know where… is/ are?

Can you tell me where… is/ are?

Could you tell me the way to…?

I’m trying to find/ I’m looking for…

Can you recommend…?

Giving directions

It takes (about) … seconds (on foot/ by taxi/ by car).

It is (about)… seconds/ centimetres/ millimetres (North/ South/…)

Go towards/ Head towards…l  Go straight (on/ ahead) – Go back (… minutes/… metres).

Go past/ Pass…

Go along…

Go across/ Cross…

Go through…

Go around…

Go over…

Turn left (and left again)/ Take the… street/ corridor/ turning/ door on the left

It’s the first/ second/ third/…th (turning/ door) on your right.

It’s downstairs/ Go down the stairs. – It’s upstairs/ Go up the stairs.

You will see it/ a… next to/ in front of/ opposite/ behind/… you.

It’s (just/ right) next to/ beside/ by…

It’s (directly) opposite…

It’s (just/ right) in front of… – It’s (just/ right) behind…

It’s on/ above/ over… – It’s below/ under/ beneath…

It’s near/ close to…

It’s between… and…

It’s on (the corner of) … Street/ Road/ Avenue/…. (and…)

It’s on this/ the next/ the first/ second / third/ fourth/ …th floor.

You will see…

Checking/ Clarifying/ Confirming

Sorry, can you say that again (a little more slowly)?

Sorry, did you say…?/ Sorry, do you mean…?

Can I check that back?

Ending giving directions/ Ending conversations

Okay, got it (now), thanks.

(That’s very clear.) Thanks for your help.

(You’re welcome./ No problem.) Have a good day.

art gallery/ museum/ The ______________ Museum

ATM/ cash machine/ cashpoint

bank/ ______________ Bank

bar/ pub

barber(‘s)/ hairdresser’s/ hair salon

beach/ _____________ Beach

bookshop

bus station/ coach station

bus stop (for…)

café/ coffee shop

Chinese restaurant

cinema/ movie theater

clinic/ _________ Clinic

convenience store

department store

Green Road

gym/ sports centre

hospital/ ______________ Hospital

hotel/ ______________ Hotel

Indian restaurant/ curry house

Japanese restaurant

library/ _______________ Library

music shop

park/ ________________ Park

pet shop/ ________ Pets

phone booth/ phone box/ public telephone

post box

post office

shopping centre/ shopping mall

sport shop

(train) station

supermarket

(outdoor/ indoor) pool/ swimming pool

(public) toilet

toy shop

somewhere I can _____________________

_________________ Alley

amusement arcade/ video arcade

animal hospital/ vet’s

_________________ Flats/ ____________ Apartments

aquarium

B&B/ bed and breakfast

bureau de change

campsite

canal/ ________________ Canal

castle/ ________________ Castle

chemist’s/ pharmacy

church/ cathedral/ _______________ Church

concert hall/ opera house

club/ nightclub/ disco

college/ university/ ______________ University

(zebra/ pedestrian) crossing

dry cleaner’s

estate agent/ real estate agent/ realtor

___________________ Hill

hostel/ youth hostel

kindergarten/ nursery school/ _____ Kindergarten

lake/ pond/ ____________ Lake/ __________ Pond

launderette/ laundromat

London Road

Main Street

flea market/ ________________ Market

antiques market/ _______________ Market

farmers’ market/ _______________ Market

Sunday market/ _______________ Market

mountain/ _____________ Mountain

off license/ liquor store

_______________ Building

pet salon

petrol station/ gas station

police box/ police station

(ferry) port

river/ ________________ River

riverfront/ waterside

roundabout/ traffic circle

primary school/ elementary school

secondary school/ high school

the statue of ____________________

sea/ seaside

shrine/ temple/ _________ Shrine/ _________ Temple

smoking area

souvenir shop

underground station/ tube station/ subway station

(conveyor belt) sushi bar

taxi rank

theatre/ ____________ Theatre

theme park/ amusement park

(baseball/ football/ …) stadium/ ground/

tram stop/ streetcar stop

zoo/ __________________ Zoo

______________

Limited/ Ltd

_______________ Associates

_______________ Corp

_______________

Japan

______________ PLC

_______________

Inc.

________________

Corporation

________________

Partners

ATM/ cash machine/ cashpoint

balcony

bin/ garbage can/ trashcan

board room

building management office

caretaker/ janitor

cloakroom

cleaners

café/ coffee shop

cafeteria/ canteen

car park/ parking lot

cigarette machine

clinic/ (doctor’s) surgery

convenience store

courtyard

disabled toilet

drinks machine

elevator hall

emergency exit

emergency staircase

escalator to the mezzanine

express elevator

fire extinguisher

first aid kit

(sunken/ rooftop) garden

lift/ elevator

locker room/ changing room

locker(s)

lost property office

meeting room

Mr ____________’s office

Ms ____________’s office

night entrance/ out of hours entrance

(jobs/ residents’) noticeboard

parking space

patio

phone box/ public telephone

post box

rear entrance/ back entrance

reception (desk)/ front desk

sculpture/ statue

security gate/ security barrier

security guards’ office

smoking area/ smoking room

mop (and bucket)

somewhere I can sit

somewhere I can charge my phone

somewhere I can buy ____________

somewhere I can get _____________

somewhere I can ________________

somewhere I can get rid of ________

staff room

stairs to the basement

taxi rank

teleconference room

terrace

the _____________ department

the _____________

division

toilet/ rest-/ powder-/ bathroom

vending machine

water fountain

wheelchair ramp

wifi hotspot

somewhere I can leave___________

a/ the cable for…

the assistant/ vice…

(recycling) bin/ trashcan

(extra) chairs

coffee

coffee machine

control panel (for the lighting /…)

copy machine/ photocopier

the (extension) cord (for…)

creamer

…’s cubicle

(my/ your/…’s) desk

drawing pins/ thumbtacks

drinks machine

fire extinguisher

the button to turn off…/ to…

glue (stick)/ Pritt stick

the head of…

hole punch

hoover/ vacuum cleaner

kettle

kitchen (area)

(printable/ sticky) labels

(spare/ LED) light bulbs

(radio) mic/ microphone

(…) noticeboard

changing rooms

lockers/ locker room

the CEO’s office/ …’s office

…’s PA/ secretary

(photocopy/ scrap/ A4/ A3) paper

paperclips

(highlighter/ ballpoint) pens

pencil sharpener

the person who deals with…

a/ the place where I can hang…

a/ the place where I can keep…

a/ the place where I can…

the place where…

Post Its/ Post It notes

projector

rubber band(s)

(a pair of) scissors

(Sello/ Scotch) tape

(book) shelves

(paper/ document) shredder

sink

first aid kit

socket/ electrical outlet

(date) stamp

stapler/ staples

storeroom/ supply room

(ring) binders

… charger(s)

correction fluid/ Tippex/ Whiteout

(paper) cups/ mugs

digital voice recorders

(top/ middle/ bottom) drawer

(A4/ brown) envelopes

fax (machine)

the… files

(clear) folders

franking machine

guillotine

headsets

the hot desks

ink pads

laptops

the person in charge of…

the person responsible for…

the person who…

petty cash

the… section/ division/ department

server

the stationery cupboard

sugar/ sweetener

the switch for…

tablets/ iPads

tea(bags)

tea towels

teaspoons

(wo)(men’s) toilet/ bathroom

toilet rolls/ toilet paper

toner

umbrella rack

vending machine

washing up liquid/ detergent

water cooler/ water dispenser

(red/ blue/…) whiteboard pens

mop (and bucket)

board room

(tele/video) conference room

(main/ night/ staff) entrance

elevator (hall)

meeting room

intercom

lost property office

dry cleaner’s

table tennis table/ ping pong table

foosball table/ table football

heater

IT support (person/ section)

fan

safe/ lockable drawer

East entrance

beanbags

chillout area

laminator

deliveries (entrance)

warehouse

pigeon holes

suggestions box

airing cupboard

attic/ loft

bedding

(recycling) bin/ trashcan/ garbage can

blankets

bowl(s)

clean…

cable for…/ cord for…

cup(s)

desk

dining room

extra…

first aid box

band aids/ plasters

(chest) freezer

fridge/ refrigerator

fruit

glass

ice (cubes)

jam

kitchen roll

(desk) lamp

light bulb(s)

living room

master bedroom

milk

mirror

my/ your/…’s (bed)room

my…

napkin(s)/ serviette(s)

pillow(s)

pillow case(s)

place where I can find…

place where I can hang…

place where I can keep…

place where I can put…

place where I can throw away/ dispose of…

place where I can…

(side/ dinner) plate(s)

(kitchen/ dinner/ carving) knife/ knives

remote control (for…)

(top/ bottom) sheet(s)

soap/ shampoo/ shower gel

sink/ washbasin

socket/ (electrical) outlet

spare bedroom/ guest room

spare…

(tea/ dessert/ serving/ soup) spoon

switch for…

(kitchen/ living room/ coffee) table

toilet

toilet roll/ toilet paper

vegetables

utility room

wardrobe

washing machine

washing up liquid/ detergent

cling film/ Saran wrap

(shopping/ plastic/ carrier/ rubbish) bags

tea towels

cliff

mountain/ peak

mountain range

hill

desert

river

stream

beach/ coastline

wood/ forest

pond/ lake

plain

valley

plateau

village

farm

farmhouse

barn

meadow

bay/ (natural) harbour

estuary

gulf

ocean

(natural/ hot) spring

island

lagoon

waterfall

sea

cave

field

national park