Asking for and giving directions
Nach dem Weg fragen und den Weg beschreiben
- Ask for directions in a city
- Giving directions to a stranger
- Ask for the existence of a building or service.
- Locations and directions: right, left, straight ahead...
Learn how to ask for and give directions in German with practical vocabulary, common phrases, and dialogues. This lesson covers key location words like Bahnhof and Stadtzentrum, directional terms such as links and geradeaus, and polite conversational structures. Practice useful questions and instructions to navigate a German-speaking city confidently.
Vocabulary (19) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Arrange the following words into two meaningful categories related to directions in the city.
Orte in der Stadt
Richtungsangaben
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Der Bahnhof
The train station
2
Geradeaus
Straight ahead
3
Der Bahnsteig
The platform
4
Zurückkommen
To come back
5
Nah
Close
Übung 5: Conversation exercise
Anleitung:
- Ask how to go to a building. (Ask how to go to a building.)
- Give directions to the others. (Give directions to the others. )
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Gibt es eine Bushaltestelle in der Nähe? Is there a bus stop nearby? |
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Gehen Sie geradeaus und dann nehmen Sie die zweite Straße links. Go straight and then take the second street on the left. |
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Der Bahnhof ist neben dem Park. The train station is next to the park. |
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Weißt du, wo die Schule ist? Do you know where the school is? |
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Ja, Sie müssen einfach geradeaus gehen. Yes, you just have to go straight. |
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Kennen Sie den Weg zum Hauptplatz? Do you know the way to the main square? |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Entschuldigung, können Sie mir sagen, wie ich zum Stadtzentrum ______?
(Excuse me, can you tell me how I ______ to the city center?)2. Sie müssen geradeaus ______ und dann links abbiegen.
(You have to ______ straight and then turn left.)3. Der Laden ist links vom Platz, Sie sind richtig ______.
(The shop is to the left of the square, you have ______ the right way.)4. Kommen Sie zur Haltestelle und dann ______ Sie zum Bahnhof zurück.
(Come to the stop and then ______ you back to the station.)Exercise 8: Asking for directions to the train station
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Sein - To be
Perfekt
- ich bin
- du bist
- er/sie/es ist
- wir sind
- ihr seid
- sie/Sie sind
Haben - To have
Perfekt
- ich habe
- du hast
- er/sie/es hat
- wir haben
- ihr habt
- sie/Sie haben
Kommen - To come
Perfekt
- ich bin gekommen
- du bist gekommen
- er/sie/es ist gekommen
- wir sind gekommen
- ihr seid gekommen
- sie/Sie sind gekommen
Sagen - To say
Präsens
- ich sage
- du sagst
- er/sie/es sagt
- wir sagen
- ihr sagt
- sie/Sie sagen
Erklären - To explain
Präsens
- ich erkläre
- du erklärst
- er/sie/es erklärt
- wir erklären
- ihr erklärt
- sie/Sie erklären
Gehen - To go
Präsens
- ich gehe
- du gehst
- er/sie/es geht
- wir gehen
- ihr geht
- sie/Sie gehen
Müssen - To must
Präsens
- ich muss
- du musst
- er/sie/es muss
- wir müssen
- ihr müsst
- sie/Sie müssen
Exercise 9: Ortsangaben und Wegbeschreibungen: Rechts, Links, Geradeaus...
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Locations and directions: right, left, straight ahead...
Show translation Show answersim, in der Nähe, weit weg vom, links vom, in der Nähe von, rechts vom, gegenüber von der
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A1.43.1 Grammatik
Ortsangaben und Wegbeschreibungen: Rechts, Links, Geradeaus...
Locations and directions: right, left, straight ahead...
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Gehen to go Share Copied!
perfekt
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) bin gegangen | I have gone |
| (du) bist gegangen | You have gone |
| (er/sie/es) ist gegangen | he/she/it has gone |
| (wir) sind gegangen | we have gone |
| (ihr) seid gegangen | you have gone |
| (sie) sind gegangen | they have gone |
Kommen to come Share Copied!
perfekt
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) bin gekommen | I have come |
| (du) bist gekommen | You have come |
| (er/sie/es) ist gekommen | he/she/it has come |
| (wir) sind gekommen | we have come |
| (ihr) seid gekommen | you have come |
| (sie) sind gekommen | they have come |
Zurückkommen to come back Share Copied!
prasens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) komme zurück | I come back |
| (du) kommst zurück | You come back |
| (er/sie/es) kommt zurück | he/she/it comes back |
| (wir) kommen zurück | we come back |
| (ihr) kommt zurück | you come back |
| (sie) kommen zurück | they come back |
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Asking for and Giving Directions in German
In this lesson, you will learn how to ask for and give directions, an essential skill for everyday communication in German-speaking countries. The focus is on common phrases and vocabulary related to locations in town and directional instructions, making it practical for real-life situations like finding a train station or a shop.
Key Vocabulary and Phrases
- Locations: das Stadtzentrum (city center), der Bahnhof (train station), die Haltestelle (bus stop), der Laden (shop), die Informationsstelle (information center), die Kreuzung (intersection)
- Direction words: geradeaus (straight ahead), links (left), rechts (right), gegenüber von (opposite of)
Practical Dialogues
You will practice dialogues such as asking for the way to the museum near the train station, giving directions to the pharmacy in the city center, and finding the supermarket nearby. These conversations include polite ways of asking, clarifying, and confirming directions.
Understanding German Direction Instructions
Unlike English, German often uses the formal "Sie" form in polite questions, e.g., "Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?" (Excuse me, where is the train station?). German direction phrases can be longer clauses connected with "und dann" (and then), helping to give clear step-by-step guidance.
Useful phrases include:
- "Gehen Sie geradeaus bis zur Kreuzung" (Go straight ahead to the intersection)
- "Dann nach links" (Then to the left)
- "Ist der Laden neben der Informationsstelle?" (Is the shop next to the information center?)
- "Ja, der Laden ist gegenüber vom Platz." (Yes, the shop is opposite the square.)
Additional Learning
This lesson also introduces verb conjugations relevant to giving directions and telling where to go, such as the verbs kommen (to come), gehen (to go), and modal verbs like müssen (must). You will also engage with a short story to practice these verbs in context.
This comprehensive approach helps you understand and practice asking for and giving directions naturally and confidently.
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