Asking for and giving directions
Pedir y dar direcciones
- Ask for directions in a city
- Giving directions to a stranger
- Ask for the existence of a building or service.
- Expressions of place: "A la izquierda", "A la derecha", "Todo recto", "En el centro"
Learn essential Spanish phrases for asking and giving directions, including key expressions like "a la izquierda" (to the left), "todo recto" (straight ahead), and common places such as "la estación" (the station) and "el centro" (the city center).
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (13) 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: Classify the words into the two categories related to asking for and giving directions to better understand their use.
Indicaciones de dirección
Lugares comunes en la ciudad
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
El parque
The park
2
Volver
To return
3
Encontrar
To find
4
La estación
The station
5
Cerca
Near
Ejercicio 5: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- 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:
|
¿Hay una parada de autobús cerca? Is there a bus stop nearby? |
|
Sigue recto y luego toma la segunda calle a la izquierda. Go straight and then take the second street on the left. |
|
La estación de tren está al lado del parque. The train station is next to the park. |
|
¿Sabes dónde está el colegio? Do you know where the school is? |
|
Sí, solo tienes que ir recto. Yes, you just have to go straight. |
|
¿Sabes el camino a la plaza principal? 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. ¿Dónde ______________ la estación central en esta ciudad?
(Where ______________ the central station in this city?)2. Para ir a la plaza, ______________ que debes ir todo recto y luego a la derecha.
(To go to the square, ______________ that you must go straight ahead and then to the right.)3. Siempre ______________ las señales claras cuando voy hacia el centro.
(I always ______________ the signs clear when I go towards downtown.)4. ¿______________ cerca de aquí la oficina de información turística?
(______________ the tourist information office near here?)Exercise 8: Asking for and Giving Directions in the City
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Encontrar - Find
Presente
- yo encuentro
- tú encuentras
- él/ella/usted encuentra
- nosotros/nosotras encontramos
- vosotros/vosotras encontráis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes encuentran
Caminar - Walk
Presente
- yo camino
- tú caminas
- él/ella/usted camina
- nosotros/nosotras caminamos
- vosotros/vosotras camináis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes caminan
Girar - Turn
Presente
- yo giro
- tú giras
- él/ella/usted gira
- nosotros/nosotras giramos
- vosotros/vosotras giráis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes giran
Ver - See
Presente
- yo veo
- tú ves
- él/ella/usted ve
- nosotros/nosotras vemos
- vosotros/vosotras veis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes ven
Llegar - Arrive
Presente
- yo llego
- tú llegas
- él/ella/usted llega
- nosotros/nosotras llegamos
- vosotros/vosotras llegáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes llegan
Exercise 9: Expresiones de lugar: "A la izquierda", "A la derecha", "Todo recto, "En el centro"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Expressions of place: "A la izquierda", "A la derecha", "Todo recto", "En el centro"
Show translation Show answersa la derecha, el centro de, al lado de, lejos del, todo recto, cerca de, en frente del, a la izquierda
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A1.43.2 Gramática
Expresiones de lugar: "A la izquierda", "A la derecha", "Todo recto, "En el centro"
Expressions of place: "A la izquierda", "A la derecha", "Todo recto", "En el centro"
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Encontrar to find Share Copied!
Presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) encuentro | I find |
| (tú) encuentras | you find |
| (él/ella) encuentra | he/she finds |
| (nosotros/nosotras) encontramos | we find |
| (vosotros/vosotras) encontráis | You find |
| (ellos/ellas) encuentran | they find |
Don't see progress when learning on your own? Study this material with a certified teacher!
Do you want to practice Spanish today? That is possible! Just contact one of our teachers today.
Lesson Overview: Asking for and Giving Directions in Spanish
This lesson focuses on practical expressions and vocabulary to help you ask for and give directions in Spanish, a key communication skill for navigating Spanish-speaking cities and towns.
Key Expressions and Phrases
You will learn common directional expressions such as "a la izquierda" (to the left), "a la derecha" (to the right), "todo recto" (straight ahead), and locational terms like "en el centro" (in the center). These phrases are foundational for both understanding and providing directions clearly.
Common Places in Town
The lesson includes vocabulary for typical city locations you may encounter or inquire about, for example, la estación (the station), la oficina de información (the tourist information office), and plazas or parks. Learning these helps you situate yourself and others contextually in urban environments.
Sample Sentences
- 1D f3nde est e1 la estaci f3n central, por favor? – "Where is the central station, please?"
- Sigue todo recto hasta la plaza y luego gira a la derecha. – "Go straight ahead until the plaza, then turn right."
- La oficina de informaci f3n tur edstica est e1 en el centro, cerca del parque. – "The tourist information office is in the center, near the park."
Practical Dialogues
The lesson also offers dialogues to practice asking for and giving directions, for example, locating a library, pharmacy, or restaurant. These realistic conversations help build confidence when speaking in real-life situations.
Verb Usage and Conjugation
Important verbs like estar (to be), seguir (to follow/go straight), girar (to turn), and encontrar (to find) are featured to build sentences around directions. You will see their conjugations in the present tense to construct meaningful phrases.
Note on Language Differences
In Spanish, location and direction expressions are often more precise than in English. For example, "a la izquierda" corresponds directly to "to the left," but word order and prepositions may vary. Also, Spanish uses the verb estar to describe locations, as in "La tienda está al lado del banco" meaning "The store is next to the bank." In English, prepositions are key, but Spanish verbs carry more locational meaning.
For learners, phrases such as 1D f3nde est e1...? (Where is...?) and commands like Sigue todo recto (Go straight ahead) are essential and widely applicable.
These lessons would not be possible without our amazing partners🙏
