Places in town and directions

In a new town you need words for places and for directions. Places: ⟦bank⟧, ⟦library⟧, ⟦station⟧, ⟦pharmacy⟧, ⟦post office⟧. Position words say where something is: ⟦next to⟧, ⟦opposite⟧, ⟦between⟧. Direction phrases tell you how to get there: ⟦turn left⟧, ⟦go straight on⟧.

Key facts

  • Places and what you do there: borrow books at the ⟦library⟧, catch a train at the ⟦station⟧, buy medicine at the ⟦pharmacy⟧, send a parcel at the ⟦post office⟧.
  • Where it is: ⟦next to⟧ (side by side), ⟦opposite⟧ (across the road), ⟦between⟧ (in the middle of two), ⟦behind⟧, ⟦in front of⟧, ⟦on the corner of⟧.
  • Directions: ⟦Go straight on.⟧ ⟦Turn left.⟧ ⟦Turn right.⟧ ⟦Take the second left.⟧ ⟦Cross the road.⟧ ⟦Go past the bank.⟧
  • Asking politely: ⟦Excuse me, how do I get to the museum?⟧ ⟦Is there a bank near here?⟧ ⟦How far is the station?⟧
  • Listen for order words: ⟦first⟧, ⟦then⟧, ⟦after that⟧, ⟦at the end of the street⟧.

Worked examples

Example 1

Complete: ⟦You can borrow books at the ___.⟧

  1. Borrowing books happens at a library.
  2. ⟦You can borrow books at the library.⟧

Answer: ⟦library⟧

Example 2

Complete: ⟦The bakery is ___ the bank: they are side by side.⟧

  1. Side by side means touching, one beside the other.
  2. ⟦The bakery is next to the bank.⟧

Answer: ⟦next to⟧

Example 3

⟦Go past the bank, then turn left.⟧ What do you do first?

  1. ⟦then⟧ joins the first step to the second.
  2. First go past the bank; after that, turn left.

Answer: ⟦Go past the bank.⟧