【英语】如何指路

If you’re in a big tourist destination like New York City, chances are someone will come up to you to ask for help. It’s important to give the right directions because you don’t want other people to get (more) lost, do you?

That means you’ll need to use the right spatial prepositions (which describe where things are) and not get confused between “right” and “left.” Make sure to use imperative sentences to sound confident when telling someone where to go.

You start with a simple verb to give clear instructions and add in spatial prepositions. Use landmarks like churches or parks so that people know they’re headed in the right direction. (In other words, learn nouns.)

Verbs

1.Walk along/walk straight down

Walk along 6th Avenue until you find the Rockefeller Center Station.

2.Turn left/right

Turn left at the intersection and the building is on the right.

3.Go around/over/under

Go over the bridge and turn left at the next stoplight.

4.Make a left/right turn

Make a left turn when you see the Hard Rock Cafe.

5.Head to

Head to Hudson Theatre and you’ll see the restaurant on the right.

6.Take the first/second left/right turn

Take the second right turn and the museum will be on the left.

7.Continue down/Follow

Continue down West 45th Street until you get to the bus stop.

Follow this street for 10 minutes before turning left at West 41st Street.

Spatial Prepositions

Spatial prepositions tell where a thing is located in relation to something else.

1.Beside

Meaning: on the side of something else

The Imperial Theatre is beside the New York Marriott Marquis hotel.

2.Next to

Meaning: to the side of, similar to “beside” but can be used if there’s nothing in between

The New York Marriott Marquis hotel is next to the Richard Rodgers Theatre.

3.Near

Meaning: close, not far

The Rockefeller Center Station is near West 46th Street.

4.To the left/right of

Meaning: as long as you don’t get confused between left or right (or get political) this one is straightforward. If you stand in the middle of an avenue facing north, buildings to the east are on the right and the buildings to the west are on the left.

The post office is to the right of the corner store.

5.Between

Meaning: to have someone or something on each side

The Broadhurst Theatre is between two theatres.

6.Behind

Meaning: being at someone or something’s back

The restaurant is just behind the metro station.

7.In front of

Meaning: if something is in front of you, it’s in a position where you can see it if you look forwards

When you turn a corner, you’ll find yourself in front of the church.

8.Across from

Meaning: on the other side of a road, river, etc.

The New York Marriott Marquis hotel is across from the Disney Store.

9.Around the corner

Meaning: you’ll find something when you turn a corner (a place where two streets meet)

If you’re in front of the Disney Store on 7th Avenue, then the Saint Mary The Virgin Church is around the corner.

10.On the…street/avenue

Meaning: to be situated (located)

The Disney Store and the New York Marriott Marquis are both on 7th Avenue.

11.At the crossroads/intersection

Meaning: a place where two roads meet

You’ll see a big mall at the intersection of 6th Avenue and West 51st Street.

Nouns

Using landmarks when giving directions makes it easier for an inquirer to find what he or she is looking for.

1.Bridges

Cross the bridge and the hotel is on the first street on the left.

2.Parks

Walk past the park, and keep going straight until you see the sign for the museum.

3.Churches

McDonald’s is past the church on West 51st Street.

4.Squares

Times Square begins at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue.

It’s also useful to know the names of more common things you find in most big cities, like blocks, malls, coffee shops.

If you’re giving directions in the countryside or on a walking trail, you’ll probably need nouns like big trees, a fast-running river, hills, etc.

Now you have some vocabulary to start giving directions!

Asking and giving directions are important components of basic conversational language. We hope words in this article will enlarge your travel vocabulary and make you comfortable enough to ask and give directions.