Kilo Lingo
English grammar Part of Chapter 3

CEFR A1

3 min read

Test yourself (21 questions)

Asking for directions in English: turn left, go straight on

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

To ask the way, you need one question: Excuse me, where is...? The answer uses a small set of words again and again: left, right, straight on, next to, opposite.

what you dowhere it isWhat do the colours mean?
JobYou hearMeaning
.
.
.
. :
.

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Pick the right sentence.

  1. Start a question to a person in the street.

  2. Do not turn. Keep going the same way.

  3. Say where the bank is.

Excuse me, where is...?

Start with Excuse me. It is the polite way to stop a person in the street.

Use it whenQuestion
, ?
?
?
?

In a question, is comes before the place:

Question word
Verb
Place
?
’s
?

Say Where is the station?, not Where the station is? In speech, where is is often where's: Excuse me, where's the bank?

If you do not understand, say Sorry, can you say that again, please? At the end, say Thank you. The other person may say You're welcome or No problem.

Left, right and straight on

what you dowhere it isWhat do the colours mean?

These are the three most important direction words.

  • left
  • right
  • straight on
  • turn
WordsMeaning
:
:
,

Go straight on is British English. Go straight ahead is common in the UK and the US. They mean the same.

Two different jobs, two different patterns:

JobExample
.
.
.

In directions, people say Turn left, with no to and no the. (Turn to the left is not wrong, but it is longer, and you will rarely hear it.)

Turn, go, take: the direction verbs

Directions are short orders. Start with the verb. There is no you.

VerbExampleMeaning
.
.
.
.
. ,

For the street, count: first, second, third.

  • . (the first street you meet)
  • . (two streets go by, then this one)

Join the steps with and or then: , .

Next to, opposite, between: where things are

where it isWhat do the colours mean?

At the end, the person says where the place is.

  • at the side of at the side of
  • face to faceface to face
  • one thing on each sideone thing on each side
  • not farnot far
WordsMeaningExample
.
, .
.
.
.

Between needs two things and and: between the cafe and the chemist.

Near and far are opposites: Is it far? No, it's not far. It's two minutes from here.

A short conversation in the street

Ana asks Tom the way. Read it out loud.

WhoSays
AnaExcuse me, where's the station?
TomGo straight on, then take the second street on the left.
AnaThe second on the left?
TomYes. Then turn right at the bank.
AnaIs it far?
TomNo, it's not far. Five minutes. It's opposite a big cafe.
AnaThank you!
TomYou're welcome.

When Ana is not sure, she says the words again: The second on the left? It is short, and it checks that she understands.

Common mistakes

WrongRightWhy
It's in the left.It's on the left. : .
Where the bank is?Where is the bank? .
It's next the bank.It's next to the bank. .
between Tom or Anabetween Tom and Ana .
Take the two street.Take the second street.: , .

The big one: turn left for what you do, on the left for where it is.

What to do next

  1. Ask the way to a place near you, in English, in your head.
  2. Give directions from your home to the nearest shop.
  3. Do the drills below.

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

0/3

Pick the right sentence.

  1. Start a question to a person in the street.

  2. Do not turn. Keep going the same way.

  3. Say where the bank is.

Sort into groups

0/6

Is it what you do, or where the place is?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Spot the mistake

0/4

Each sentence has one mistake. Tap it.

Complete the story

0/4

Choose the word that fits each gap.

Ana asks the way

Excuse me, is the station? Go straight , then turn at the bank. The station is a big cafe.

Gap 1 of 4

Matching

0/4

Match the question to the answer.

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Frequently asked questions

How do you ask for directions politely in English?
Start with Excuse me. Then ask Where is the station? or Is there a bank near here? At the end, say Thank you. Excuse me is the polite way to start talking to a person you do not know.
Is it turn left or turn to the left?
In directions, people almost always say turn left or turn right, with no to the. Turn to the left is not wrong, but it is longer and less common. For where a thing is, say on the left: the bank is on the left.
What does go straight on mean?
It means keep going, the same way, and do not turn. Go straight on is British English. Go straight ahead is also common, in the UK and the US.
What is the difference between next to and opposite?
Next to means at the side of a thing: the cafe is next to the bank. Opposite means on the other side of the street, face to face: the cafe is opposite the bank.
How do I ask if a place is far?
Ask Is it far? The answer may be No, it's not far, It's five minutes from here, or Yes, take a bus.