How to express directions in English

If you are in a tourist destination like New York, there is a good chance that someone will come to you for help. Pointing the right way is important because you don't want people to get lost, right?

This means you need to use locative prepositions (used to describe where something is), and you need to have a clear Sense of direction. Use imperative sentences when giving directions to others to sound more confident.

Start your answer with a simple verb, give clear instructions and add spatial prepositions. Use landmarks like churches or parks so people know they are heading in the right direction. (In other words, learn nouns)

Verbs

verbs

1. Walk along/walk straight down

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

2.Turn left/right

Turn left/right

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

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

3.Go around/over/under

Go around/over/under

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

Cross the bridge and turn left at the next traffic light.

4.Make a left/right turn

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

Turn left when you see the Hard Rock Cafe.

5. Head to

Head to Hudson Theater and you'll see the restaurant on the right.

Walk toward the Hudson Theater and you will see the restaurant on the right.

6. Take the first/second left/right turn

Take the first/second left/right turn

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

Turn right at the second intersection and the museum will be on the left.

7. Continue down/Follow

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

Continue walking along West 45th Street until you reach the bus stop.

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

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

Spatial Prepositions

Positional prepositions

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

Positional prepositions refer to Where something is placed with respect to a reference object.

1.Beside

On the side of?

Meaning: on the side of something else

Meaning: on the side of something else

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

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

2.Next to

Next to

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

Meaning: On one side, which is very similar to beside, but used to indicate that there is no gap between the two.

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

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

3. Near

Near, next to?

Meaning: close, not far

Meaning: near, not far

The Rockefeller Center Station is near West 46th Street.

The Rockefeller Center Station is near West 46th Street.

4.To the left/right of

On 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.

　Meaning : This expression is very clear as long as you can distinguish left and right. If you stand in the middle of the street facing north, the buildings to the east are to your right and the buildings to the west are to your left.

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