How to ask for directions in English
Excuse me, how do I get to the subway?
“Excuse me, how can I get to the subway?”
When: Talking to someone on the street
The moment
You are lost in Midtown Manhattan and need to ask someone on the street how to get to the nearest subway station.
A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around
The lines
Stopping a stranger
Start with "Excuse me". It is polite and gets attention. Then ask "Where is...?" or "How do I get to...?"
Excuse me, how do I get to the subway?
“Excuse me, how can I get to the subway?”
When to use it: Talking to someone on the street
What you’ll hear back: Go two blocks down and make a left.
Checking the answer
Listen for "straight", "left", "right" and "blocks". A block is the space between two streets. Say the directions back to check.
So two blocks, then left?
“So I walk two blocks, then turn left?”
When to use it: Checking the directions you just heard
What you’ll hear back: You got it. You can't miss it. (Yes, right. It is easy to find.)
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| How do I get to...? | HOW-duh-ai GEH-duh | What is the way to...? |
How do I get to Times Square? Which way do I go to reach Times Square? Tip: Works for any place: the subway, a museum, a hotel. | ||
| go straight | go STRAYT | walk forward, do not turn |
Go straight until you see the park. Walk forward and do not turn until you see the park. Tip: People also say "keep going" or "go down this street". | ||
| make a left / make a right | MAY-kuh LEFT / MAY-kuh RAIT | turn left / turn right |
Make a right on 42nd Street. Turn right when you reach 42nd Street. Tip: Very common in New York. It means the same as "turn". | ||
Your objective
Ask how to get where you’re going, then check one detail: which way to turn or how far it is.
- where you’re going
- which way or how far
Lines that get it done
- Excuse me, how do I get to the subway?
- So two blocks, then left?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. What do you say first to stop a stranger politely?
- Excuse me
- Hey you
- Come here
- Stop
Show the answer
Excuse me
"Excuse me" is the polite way to start.
2. Someone says "Go two blocks." What does "block" mean here?
- The space between two streets
- A tall building
- A subway train
- A kind of shop
Show the answer
The space between two streets
In US cities, people count distance in blocks.
3. What does "make a left" mean?
- Turn left
- Stay on the left
- Go back
- Stop on the left
Show the answer
Turn left
"Make a left" and "turn left" mean the same thing.