Everyday English (Elementary)

Topic: Asking for Directions

Lesson Notes September 12, 2023 (Elementary)

• The first time I did it, it was easy. This time, it wasn’t as easy as I thought.

• Graceful, elegant, refined; We can use these words to mean a sense of beauty, sophistication, and a high level of aesthetic quality

• It’s not done yet, but I will show you. (NOT it’s on the way)

• We use “on the way” to talk about a journey in progress, or about to arrive to happen

• “Please relax, the dentist is on his way.”

• There is a typhoon on the way, it should reach us in a couple of days.”

• I went to a Mexican restaurant with a friend.

• I went to eat Mexican food with a friend.

• My eyes (become / get) dry.

• I have dry eye.

• For me eye drops are important. Some eye drops contain preservatives.

• His eye doctor is kind, and his explanations are detailed.

Asking for Directions

• A cinema; a place where you watch movies

• A theatre; a place where you watch plays, performances and other live shows

• Go (past / by) the hotel (We cannot use “through” the hotel, the meaning is different)

When we use “There is / are / isn’t / aren’t …” we need to match our verb and noun properly. Most places we usually add “-s” to the location or place to make it plural

• There is a (singular noun).

• There is a museum near the station.

• There are (plural noun).

• There are museums in my town.

• There isn’t a (singular noun)

• There isn’t a bank near my house.

When we use “are not” it’s common to add “any” before the plural noun

• There aren’t any (plural nouns).

• There aren’t any convenience stores in my neighbourhood. 

Even when we use the “no” or “zero”, we have to use a plural noun.

• There are (no / zero) churches in my area.

When giving directions, we often have to use “the” to talk about a specific location

• Stop at the traffic lights.

• I’ll wait for you on the corner.

• A: Is there a bank near here?
  B: Yes, there is. The bank is near the station.