Giving and asking for directions (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Giving and asking for directions
When travelling in Spanish-speaking countries, being able to ask for and understand directions is essential. This topic covers the key vocabulary, phrases, and grammar structures you need to navigate successfully and help others find their way.
Essential directional vocabulary
Understanding basic directional terms is the foundation of giving and receiving directions. These phrases help you describe locations and movements in relation to landmarks and streets.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| a la derecha | on the right |
| a la izquierda | on the left |
| al lado de | next to |
| antes de | before |
| después de | after |
| hasta | up to, as far as |
| a unos metros | a few metres away |
| estar cerca (de) | to be near/close (to) |
| estar lejos (de) | to be far (from) |
These directional terms are used constantly in everyday conversations about location. Focus on learning the most common ones first: a la derecha, a la izquierda, and al lado de.
Location and landmark vocabulary
These words help you identify specific places and features when giving or receiving directions. Landmarks serve as reference points that make directions much clearer and easier to follow.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la esquina | corner |
| la plaza | square |
| el puente | bridge |
| la calle | street |
| la carretera | road |
| el final | the end |
| a pie | walking |
Landmark vocabulary is crucial because Spanish speakers often use prominent buildings, squares, and street features as reference points rather than exact addresses when giving directions.
Movement verbs
These action words are crucial for explaining how to get from one place to another. They form the backbone of directional instructions.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| bajar | to go down |
| coger | to catch |
| continuar | to continue |
| salir | to leave |
| seguir | to follow, carry on |
| subir | to go up |
| tomar | to take |
| cruzar | to cross |
| caminar | to walk |
Grammar focus: giving directions using imperatives
When giving directions, you use the imperative form (command form) of verbs. This tells someone what to do directly and clearly, making your directions easy to understand and follow.
Forming imperatives for one person
Key Rule for Imperatives: To create the imperative form when speaking to one person (tú), take the present tense tú form and remove the final 's':
- bajas (you go down) → baja (go down!)
- tomas (you take) → toma (take!)
- sigues (you follow) → sigue (follow!)
Example sentences with imperatives
Here are common directional phrases using the imperative form:
- Toma la primera calle - Take the first street
- Cruza el puente - Cross the bridge
- Sigue esta calle - Follow this street
- Coge el autobús en la plaza - Catch the bus in the square
Worked Example: Building a Complete Direction
Let's create directions to a bank from a starting point:
Step 1: Start with movement verb (imperative) → "Sigue" (follow)
Step 2: Add the path → "Sigue esta calle" (follow this street)
Step 3: Add the distance/landmark → "Sigue esta calle hasta la plaza" (follow this street to the square)
Step 4: Add the final instruction → "Sigue esta calle hasta la plaza y el banco está a la derecha" (follow this street to the square and the bank is on the right)
Plural imperatives
When giving directions to more than one person, the endings change:
- -ar verbs add -ad: coger → coged
- -ir verbs add -id: seguir → seguid
Some verbs have irregular imperative forms that need to be memorised separately. These don't follow the standard pattern and must be learned individually.
Asking for directions: useful phrases
These expressions help you politely ask for help when you're lost or looking for somewhere specific. Politeness is especially important when approaching strangers for assistance.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Por dónde se va a...? | How do you get to...? |
| ¿Hay un/una... por aquí? | Is there a... round here? |
| Por favour ¿sabe dónde está(n)...? | Excuse me, do you know where... is/are? |
Example conversations
Here's how these phrases work in real conversations:
Worked Example: Asking for Directions
Tourist: "Por favour ¿hay un supermercado por aquí?" Local: "Sí, sigue esta calle hasta el final, luego toma la calle a la derecha."
Translation: Tourist: "Excuse me, is there a supermarket round here?" Local: "Yes, follow this street to the end, then take the street on the right."
Key elements:
- Polite opener: "Por favour" (excuse me/please)
- Location question: "¿hay un... por aquí?" (is there a... round here?)
- Clear directions using imperatives: "sigue" and "toma"
Pronunciation tips
Proper pronunciation helps ensure you're understood when asking for or giving directions:
Essential Pronunciation Points:
- 'rr' in carretera: Roll your tongue to make the strong 'rr' sound
- 'j' in izquierda: Make a harsh 'h' sound, like clearing your throat
- Stress patterns: Most direction words are stressed on the second-to-last syllable (de-RE-cha, iz-QUIER-da)
Practice these sounds slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Translation Practice: Spanish to English
- Cruza la plaza y sigue hasta la esquina.
- El banco está a la derecha, al lado del supermercado.
Translation Practice: English to Spanish
- Take the first street on the left.
- Is there a pharmacy near here?
Answers:
- Cross the square and continue to the corner.
- The bank is on the right, next to the supermarket.
- Toma la primera calle a la izquierda.
- ¿Hay una farmacia por aquí?
Key Points to Remember:
- Remove the 's' from the tú form to create imperatives for giving directions
- Use "¿Por dónde se va a...?" to ask how to get somewhere
- Learn key landmarks vocabulary (plaza, puente, esquina) as reference points
- Practice the rolling 'rr' sound in words like "carretera"
- Imperatives are direct commands - perfect for clear, helpful directions
- Always start requests with "Por favour" to be polite
- Landmark-based directions are more common than street addresses in Spanish-speaking countries