Directions (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Las direcciones (Directions)
When you're exploring Spanish-speaking countries or helping Spanish speakers in your area, knowing how to ask for and give directions is essential. This topic will help you navigate conversations about getting from one place to another with confidence.
Essential vocabulary for directions
Understanding these key terms will help you both ask for and understand directions in Spanish:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| las direcciones | directions |
| la calle | the street |
| el puente | the bridge |
| la plaza | the square |
| el ayuntamiento | the town hall |
| el estadio | the stadium |
| la comisaría | the police station |
| el supermercado | the supermarket |
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| gire a la derecha | turn right |
| gire a la izquierda | turn left |
| tome la segunda calle | take the second street |
| tome la tercera calle | take the third street |
| siga todo recto | continue straight ahead |
| cruce el puente | cross the bridge |
| cruce la calle | cross the street |
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| al final de la calle | at the end of the street |
| enfrente de | opposite |
| lejos de | far from |
| cerca de | near |
Example Sentences in Context:
- Tome la segunda calle a la derecha. (Take the second street on the right.)
- El estadio está cerca del supermercado. (The stadium is near the supermarket.)
- Cruce la plaza y siga todo recto. (Cross the square and continue straight ahead.)
Grammar Note: Notice that when giving directions, we use the formal imperative form. This is the polite way to give instructions to someone you don't know well.
Asking for directions politely
When you need help finding your way, these phrases will help you ask for directions courteously:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Por dónde se va al/a la...? | How do you get to...? |
| Disculpe, señor/señora | Excuse me, sir/madam |
| ¿Me puede ayudar? | Can you help me? |
| ¿Qué pasa? | What's the matter? |
| ¡Estoy perdido/a! | I'm lost! |
Polite Phrase Examples:
- Disculpe, señor, ¿por dónde se va al ayuntamiento? (Excuse me, sir, how do you get to the town hall?)
- Perdón, señorita, ¿por dónde se va al estadio? (Sorry, miss, how do you get to the stadium?)
- ¡Estoy perdido! ¿Me puede ayudar? (I'm lost! Can you help me?)
- Buenos días, señor. ¿Me puede ayudar? (Good morning, sir. Can you help me?)
- ¿Por dónde se va a la comisaría? (How do you get to the police station?)
Grammar micro-focus: formal imperative for directions
When giving directions to someone you address as "usted" (formal "you"), you need to use the formal imperative. This is the polite way to give instructions.
Critical Grammar Rules for Formal Imperative:
For regular verbs:
- -ar verbs: Take the present tense "yo" form, remove the -o, add -e
- girar → gire (turn)
- -er verbs: Take the present tense "yo" form, remove the -o, add -a
- tomar → tome (take)
- -ir verbs: Take the present tense "yo" form, remove the -o, add -a
- seguir → siga (continue/follow)
For stem-changing and irregular verbs:
Some verbs change their stem or are completely irregular in the formal imperative:
- seguir (e→i): siga (continue)
- volver (o→ue): vuelva (return)
- tener: tenga (have)
- poner: ponga (put)
Formal Imperative in Action:
- Gire a la izquierda. (Turn left.)
- Tome la primera calle a la derecha. (Take the first street on the right.)
- Siga todo recto hasta la plaza. (Continue straight ahead to the square.)
Cultural expression
Modismo: Estar más perdido que un pulpo en un garaje
This amusing idiom literally means "to be more lost than an octopus in a garage" and is used when someone is completely lost. The adjective perdido changes to agree with the gender and number of the person: perdido/perdida/perdidos/perdidas.
Translation practice
Translation Exercise:
Spanish to English:
- Tome la segunda calle a la derecha y cruce el puente.
- El ayuntamiento está enfrente del supermercado.
English to Spanish: 3. Turn left and continue straight ahead. 4. The stadium is near the police station.
Common errors and fixes
Critical Mistakes to Avoid:
-
Error: Using the informal imperative (gira, toma) when being polite Fix: Use the formal imperative (gire, tome) when addressing strangers or in formal situations
-
Error: Forgetting gender agreement with perdido/perdida Fix: Estoy perdido (if you're male), Estoy perdida (if you're female)
-
Error: Mixing up derecha (right) and izquierda (left) Fix: Remember that derecha starts with 'd' like 'dexterous' (right-handed)
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Use ¿Por dónde se va al/a la...? to ask "How do you get to...?"
- Always be polite when asking for help: Disculpe, señor/señora
- Use the formal imperative (gire, tome, siga) when giving directions politely
- Key direction words: derecha (right), izquierda (left), recto (straight)
- If you're completely lost, you're más perdido que un pulpo en un garaje!
Translation answers:
- Take the second street on the right and cross the bridge.
- The town hall is opposite the supermarket.
- Gire a la izquierda y siga todo recto.
- El estadio está cerca de la comisaría.