9.

GIVING AND FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

GIVING AND FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS
Objectives:
After completing this lesson, you should be able to:

 Give and follow instructions

 Give and follow directions

A. Giving and Follow Instructions

We use the imperative form to give orders or directions in English.

“Eat your vegetables!”

“Turn left and go straight on.”
“Practise English for ten minutes a day!”
“Be careful!”
“Please take a seat.”

1. Use the imperative form

We use the imperative form to give orders, warnings and advice:

 Be quiet!
 Take care!
 Listen!
 Sit down.
 Get me something to drink.

You should soften the imperative form with let’s or please while talking to an adult.

 Let’s go now, shall we?

 Let’s take a break, shall we?
 Please listen to what I’m saying. (More polite than ‘Listen to what I am saying.’)

2. Use a modal verb to turn the order into a request

Modal auxiliary verbs can make orders and instructions sound more polite. For example, ‘Could you help
me?’ is more polite than ‘Help me!’

More examples are given below.

 Could you make me some tea?

 Could you post this letter?
 Could you lend me 50 dollars, please?
 Could you bring me that file, please?
  Could you pick up the kids from school, please?
 Can you come here please?
 Can you do something for me?
 Can you do this for me?
 Can you wait a minute?
 Can you give me a lift?
 Can you fetch Mary from the airport?
 Will you keep quiet please?
 Would you wait here until I’m back?

Could is more polite than can. Both can and could are followed by a verb without to.

1. Verb + object

Examples:

 Close the window, please!

 Drive carefully, you bring a lot of kids.
 Listen to the audio carefully.
 Bring your umbrella, it might rain.
 Do your homework, please.
 Go to sleep early.
 Read the passage aloud!
 Open the door!
 Cut the onions into dice.
 Wake up!

2. Don’t + verb + object

Examples:

 Don’t come home late!

 Don’t use your phone in the library!
 Don’t listen to people saying things about you.
 Don’t close the window, it’s hot in here.
 Don’t wait for me.
 Don’t play rough with your brother.
 Don’t memorize your speech.
 Don’t drink while standing.
 Don’t eat too much.
 Don’t text while driving, it’s dangerous!

3. Be + adjective/adverb/noun

Examples:

 Be more attentive to your sister, please.

 Be calm, you’re too angry to do anything right now.
 Be here in 10 minutes, please.
 Be careful around the block, there are a lot of children playing.
  Be nice to your mother.
 Be smarter than your competitor.
 Be brave, there’s nothing here to be afraid of.
 Be back soon, please.
 Be safe around trains.
 Be mindful, breathe in, breathe out.

4. Don’t + be + adjective/adverb/noun

Examples:

 Don’t be afraid of the dark.

 Don’t be late, please.
 Don’t be childish, you’re an adult now.
 Don’t be too friendly to strangers.
 Don’t be too honest when giving information, it’s embarrassing.
 Don’t be embarrassed with me, I’m your friend.
 Don’t be too rigid, live a little.
 Don’t be too smart too soon, you have a life other than school.
 Don’t be so naïve.
 Don’t be impolite, you’re speaking to elders.

Some examples for giving extra help

When you give instructions, you can help the other person with extra information and advice.

 Remember: turn off the electricity before touching any cables.

 Be careful not to … (touch any live wires)
 Try to … (see if the lightbulb is broken or just loose)
 Try not to … (touch the lightbulb with your hands)
 You need to … (check the wattage of the lightbulb first)
 It’s important to … (make sure the electricity is off)
 It helps to … (wait for the lightbulb to cool down before you remove it)
 Be sure to … (turn off the electricity before you you touch the lightbulb)
 Always … (wear gloves when you touch a lightbulb)
 Never … (touch a socket with wet hands)

Useful verbs for instructions

 Turn on / switch on = activate power or electricity: “First, turn on the PC.”

 Turn off / switch off = deactivate power or electricity: “Turn off the lights when you leave.”
 Take off / remove = detach something from another thing: “Remove the plastic before you put the meal
in the microwave.”
 Take out = take one thing out from another thing: “Take the television out of the box.”
 Attach / connect = put two things together: “Connect the wires.”
 Check / make sure = be sure about something: “Check that the light is on.”
 Proceed / continue: “Continue to stir until the mixture is thick.”
 Plug in = connect to the electricity: “Plug the modem in.”
 Put back / replace: “Replace the cover after changing the battery.”
Dialogue 1
Jenny : “It’s very windy. Close the door, please, Daniel,”
Daniel : “All right, mom.”
Jenny : “Turn on the light, Daniel. It’s dark here.”
Daniel : “Certainly, mom.”
Jenny : “Give me those glasses and put this cup on that table.”
Daniel : “With pleasure, mom.”
Jenny : “Good boy, Daniel. And move that chair over here, please.”
Daniel : “O.K, mom. But, please, give me a break!”
Jenny : “Yes, Daniel. Sure.”
Dialogue 2
Teacher : “Take your English books, please.”
Students : “All right, Sir.”
Teacher : “Find page 21.”
Students : “All right, Sir.”
Teacher : “Now, repeat after me: Give me the dictionary.”
Students : “Give me the dictionary.”
Teacher : “Good. Nita, stand up please.”
Students : “All right. What must I do, Sir?”
Teacher : “Write a sentence on the black board, please.”
Nita : “All right, Sir.”
Teacher : “Good. Thank you, Dino, read that sentence please.”
Dino : “Don’t give me the dictionary.”
Teacher : “Good. Thank you.”
Questions:
1. Why does Jenny ask Daniel to close the door?
2. Why does Jenny ask Daniel to turn on the light?
3. What else does she ask him?
4. What is the relationship between Jenny and Daniel?
5. What does the teacher ask Nita to do?
6. What does the teacher ask Dino to do?
REMEMBER!
To give instructions (to ask somebody to do something):

 Close the door.

 Please close the door.
 Close the door, please.
 Close the window, please
your book
your eyes
To give negative instructions (to ask somebody not to do something):

 Don’t give me the dictionary.

 Don’t give me the dictionary, please.
 Please don’t give me the dictionary.
 Don’t give me the dictionary.
write your address here.
tell that to other people.
look at me that way.
To answer those questions:

 Yes, Sir.
Madam.
Mom.
Dad.
Or:

 All right.
 Certainly
 Surely
 With pleasure
Or you can also say:
 No problems.
 O.K (okay)
If you do not want to follow the instructions:

 I’m sorry, Sir.

Madam.
 I’m sorry. I can’t do it.
I am busy.

B. Give and Following Directions

When you’re in a country you don’t know, you can easily get lost at some point during the trip, even if you have
a map. So it’s really useful to know how to ask for and understand directions in English so you can reach your
destination. It’s also great to be able to give directions yourself to tourists or foreign colleagues.

The most important words and phrases are:

It’s also helpful to know some common places people visit in a city, such as the following:

Here are some examples:

 Go along the street until you reach the traffic lights.

 You’ll see a bank on the left.
 It’s about two blocks from here.
 I prefer going to the airport on the highway because it’s faster.

Some prepositions and adverbs can also help when you’re giving directions:
For examples,

 My office building is in front of the mall.

 Go straight on for about one kilometre.
 The cinema is next to the bank.

Asking for directions

When you ask for directions, remember above all to be polite. So start by saying one of the following phrases:

 Hello. Can you help me, please?

 Good morning. May I ask for some help?
 Excuse me, could you help?

Once you have someone’s attention, you can ask for help to reach your destination. You can do that by using
one of these phrases:

 Could you tell me how to get to the bank?

 Do you know where the museum is?
 We can’t find the subway station. Is it near here?
 Where can we find a park near here?

If you’re not sure you’re going in the right direction, you can make sure by asking:

 Are we on the right road to the city center?

 Is this the right way to the mall?
 What’s the best way to get to the airport?

B. Giving and Following directions

In the same way that you need to ask directions when you travel abroad, foreigners visiting your city might ask
you directions, and what better way to practice English than to help them? 🙂
Here are some common phrases you can use:

 Go past the cinema. (Pass the cinema.)

 Go along this road.
 Go straight on/ahead. (Stay on this road – don’t turn.)
 Go through the tunnel.
 At the roundabout, take the first exit.
 Turn left at the crossroads.
 Take the second right.
 It’s on your left.
 You’ll see it in front of you.
 It’s on the other side of the road.
 You’re going the wrong way.
Vocabularies for giving directions

go straight - Go straight on Main Street.

turn left - Turn left at the supermarket.

turn right - Turn right on the next corner.

go past - Go past the cinema and you’ll find the library.

cross - If you cross the street, you’ll find a bookstore there!

Go along - Go along the main road until you find the gas station.
Around the corner - The museum is just around the corner.
Between - You can find the coffee shop between the office building and the movie theater.
Behind - There’s a nice park behind the parking lot.
Turn back / go back - If you get to the bridge, you went too far, you’ll have to turn back.
Go down - Go down the hill and you’ll find the entrance to the park.
Go over - To get to the building, you have to go over the walkway.
Go through - Take a shortcut to the school going through the park.
Go up - Go up the hill and you’ll find the bus stop.
In front of - The market is in front of the City Hall.
Beside - My school is beside a small park.
Near - I live near the forest.

Expressions for directions

Excuse me, where is the…?

Excuse me, how do I get to…?
Excuse me, is there a ______ near here?
How do I get to…?
What’s the way to…?
Where is _____ located?
Excuse me, is there any post office around here?
Is this way going to the police station?
How can I get to the nearest police station?

Vocabularies for directions

roundabout sidewalk zebra crossing traffic lights street

corner highway Y-junction T-junction intersection

exit ramp signpost avenue bridge

country road lane overpass alley

boulevard tunnel

Exercise 1
Use the right word.
window put sit me go
sentence find please turn speak
1. Write a …………………………………………… on a piece of paper.
2. Open the ……………………………………….. we need some fresh air.
3. …………………………………. That bag on the floor.
4. ……………………………………. To the corner, please.
5. ………………………………….. lesson 4 Exercise 7 in your book.
6. Listen to …………………….. please. Keep quite.
7. …………………………………. Give me a marker.
8. …………………………………… down on that chair, Tim.
9. Don’t …………………………………..
10. ………………………………………… off the radio. I’d like to watch TV.
Exercise 2
Change the positive commands into negative ones and vice versa.
E.g.: Don’t give me a cigarette. Give him snack.
1. Tell me the truth ……………………………………. a lie.
2. Don’t write on a note book …………………………… a piece of paper.
3. Come here on time ……………………………… late.
4. Don’t turn the radio up …………………………. down.
5. Wait for me in the office ………………………….. at home.
6. Don’t put it on the table ………………………. in the drawer.
7. Sit on the chair ………………………. on the table.
8. Don’t read it loudly ………………….. silently.
9. Take me to the station ……………………… the bus stop.
10. Just erase this part ………………………….. to other part.
Exercise 3
Look around you, then give positive or negative instructions to your friend.
For example:
Amer, close the door, please.
1. ………………………………………………………….. black board.
2. ………………………………………………………….. lamp.
3. ………………………………………………………….. window.
4. ………………………………………………………….. chair.
5. ………………………………………………………….. table.
6. ………………………………………………………….. eraser.
7. ………………………………………………………….. chalk.
8. ………………………………………………………….. tea.
9. ………………………………………………………….. car
10. ………………………………………………………….. question
Exercise 4
Respond to the following situations,
I : “It’s very windy.”
U : “………………………………………………….. window.”
I : “She’s very thirsty.”
U : ………………………………………………………………………...
I : “She’s very hungry.”
U : ………………………………………………………………………...
I : “It’s a secret.”
U :………………………………………………………………………...
I : “It’s very hot.”
U : ………………………………………………………………………...
I : “It’s rubbish.”
U :………………………………………………………………………...
I : “Oh, You’ve asked people to do of things.”
U : ………………………………………………………………………...

Exercise 5

Choose the most appropriate answer.

1. Excuse me! ……… is the post office, please?

A. How B What C. When D. Where

2. Could you tell me ……. to get to the History Museum, please?

A. how B. what C. when D. where

3. Can you tell me where ………., please?

A. is the bank B. the bank C. the bank is D. there a bank

4. Would you mind ……..me some directions, please?

A. explaining. B giving C. helping D. offering

5. I am ……….for the new children's library.

A. asking. B. finding C. looking D. trying

6. Walk two blocks and turn left ……….

 A. around the bank B. at the traffic light C. in the corner D. into a large hotel

7. Go ……….the flower shop, the drugstore, and the supermarket.

A. across B. behind C. opposite D. past

8. The library will be on your left. It's a large red-brick building. You can't ……..it.
A. find B. forget C. miss D. see

9. Could you tell me where ……….some souvenirs, please?

A. can I buy B. could I buy C. I can buy D. should I buy

10. There are several souvenir shops on Apple Street, about three blocks …………. .
A. away from B. from here C. near here D. not far

Exercise 6 Prepositions of place

at the end behind between in in front of next next to on opposite

The railway station is at the end of the road, ……………..the bank and the library.
1. The bank is at the end of the road on the left-hand side and ……………the library.
2. The library is ……………….. [?] of the road, on the right-hand side and opposite the bank.
3. The post office is on the left-hand side, opposite the cinema and ………………..to the bank
4. The concert hall is between the cinema and the hotel ……………….the right of the street.
5. The shopping centre is ………………the town hall and in front of the car park.
6. The police station is the first building on the right, ………………..[?] the football ground, opposite the
café.
7. The football ground is on the right, ………………the police station.
 8. The café is the first building on the left, ……….. [?] the church.
9. The market is ……………the middle of the street.

Don’t forget!
Very listen give all right
Noisy repeat write certainly
Thirsty find follow surely
Hungry sit close with pleasure
Hot stand open no problems
Cold turn put o.k (okay)
Rubbish look table
Secret
Please, do ……………………………………………..!
Please, don’t ………………………………………….!