Business English:
Asking for and Giving
Directions - Lesson
In the course of their work,
businesspeople often travel
to other people's offices or
businesses.
And, from time
to time they need to find
they way around places they
have never been.
Take a look at the
structures for asking for
and giving directions in the
table below:
|
Asking for
Directions |
Excuse me . . .
**
This is always
the most polite
way to begin
your request for
directions**
|
|
Would/Could you
tell me how to
get to . . .
Anderson
Construction? |
|
How do I find .
. . suite
305? |
|
What is the best
way to get to .
. . business
office? |
|
Would/Could you
direct me to . .
. Ms.
Sumidata's
office? |
|
Which way do I
go to get to . .
. the
Nobunaga
Building? |
|
Giving Directions |
|
Go straight |
Make a U turn |
Turn left |
Turn right |
|
Continue on
(keep going) |
Follow this
hall . . . road
. . . path |
|
Take the
elevator |
It's about 150
meters |
|
It's next to . .
. across from .
. . opposite . .
. beside . . .
between (two
things) |
Cross the . . .
street . . .
road . . . park
. . . lobby . .
. intersection .
. .
Go past
the . . . |
|
It's on . . .
the left . . .
the right . . .
the third floor
. . . the corner |
|
Prepositions to
use with
Directions |
|
Go straight |
Go to |
Right |
left |
|
Cross |
On your right |
On your left |
beside |
|
Next to |
Behind |
Across from |
In front of |
|
On the corner of |
|
* Don't forget
to say "Thank
you" after
someone has
given you
assistance. |
When Giving Directions in
English
Giving
directions usually consists
of to sets of instructions.
In the first
set: Say
"Go to" and tell the
listener what street,
building, office number, etc
- or - how far they need to
go.
In the second
set: Say "Then"
and tell the listener what
to do when they get there.
(turn left, turn right, it's
on the left, etc.)
Giving
even very complicated
directions is just a
repetition of these two
steps.
Dialog
Practice:
Work with a
partner and create short
dialogs from the table
above.
When you are
finished with
this lesson go
to the
Directions Activity |
