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 Lesson
12 - Asking Directions
Dialogs for everyday use. Short situational dialogs for
students of English as a Foreign (EFL) or Second (ESL)
Language. |
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Asking Directions
MARK: Excuse me. Could you tell me where
the library is?
NANCY: Yes, it’s that way. You go three
blocks to Washington Street, then turn right. It’s on the corner, across from
the bank.
MARK: Thanks! I’ve only been in town a few
days, so I really don’t know my way around yet.
NANCY: Oh, I know how you feel. We moved
here a year ago, and I still don’t know where everything is! |
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Conversation Notes |
- Could you tell me … is slightly more polite than “Can
you tell me …?”
- Could you tell me where the library is? Notice that
“library” is stressed here because it is the word with the important
information. This is an indirect question, so the subject (the library)
comes before the verb (is). The word order is reversed in a direct question
(Where is the library?).
- Yes, it’s that way. Notice the stress on “that.” The
speaker is pointing in a certain direction and wants to emphasize that
direction.
- I know how you feel is a way of saying “I understand.”
Notice the emphasis on “feel.” The speaker wants to show empathy and
understanding.
- I still don’t know where everything is! Notice the word
order of where “everything is.” The subject (everything) comes before the
verb (is). This word order is different from the direct question (Where is
everything?).
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Source: U.S. State Department |
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Additional
Conversation Lessons |
 Conversation
This is a collection of 30 situational conversations
which focus on a wide variety of communicative and
natural encounters in English....these
lessons are for beginning students. |
 Conversation
This is a collection of 36 situational conversations
which focus on spoken American English in a relatively
natural way....these
lessons are for intermediate students. |
 Conversation
English conversation lessons. 52
lessons covering pronunciation, speaking,
writing, and grammar topics....these
lessons are for beginning students. |
 Conversation
English conversation lessons. 30
lessons focusing mostly on communication and
grammar topics....these
lessons are for intermediate students. |
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