Have you ever looked up online driving directions in English?  Some common websites that people use  to do this in America are Google Maps, MapQuest Maps, and Yahoo Directions.  If you never have looked up driving directions in English you may want to on one of these sites.  If you have looked up or had to follow driving directions written in English some of the following words will be familiar to you: merge, continue, head east (or west), turn right (or left), slight right (or left), etc.  Today we will take a closer look at  some of this vocabulary in case you ever do have to look up and follow directions in English.  Here is some vocabulary your will need to know:

continue – remain moving in the same direction

enter – go into

exit – a place to leave the road you are on and get onto another road

head – go in the direction of

merge – to go from one lane of traffic into another moving lane of traffic

slight – a small turn, not a full 90 degree turn

toward – in the direction of

turn – to take a bend or curve in the road

Below are some real driving directions in which you will see this vocabulary in action.  This is the same vocabulary an electronic GPS navigating system will also use.  So even if you don’t print out driving directions to get where you are going anymore this vocabulary will also be useful when using a GPS.

Here are some other important abbreviations you will want to know when reading driving directions:

N=north

E=east

S=south

W=west

I=interstate (a highway the goes between more than one state)

Directions:

Head east on H St toward Madison Place.

Turn right onto 15th St.

Turn left onto Jefferson Dr.

Turn right onto U.S. 1 S/14th St., continue to follow U.S. 1 S.

Continue onto I-395 S.

Take the exit onto I-395 S.

Take exit 8C on the left to merge onto U.S. 1 S toward Alexandria.

Exit onto VA-233 E toward Reagan National Airport.

Continue to follow VA-233 E.

Continue onto Aviation Cir.

Take slight right to stay on Aviation Cir.

Destination will be on the right.

If you are looking for more direction in your language learning, turn to Transparent Language for help.  Check out all the resources available to you at www.transparent.com