français · A2 · vocabulary · 4 minutes
Giving directions
Turn streets and landmarks into a sequence someone can follow.
Understand the choice
Good directions alternate an action with a visible reference point. Continuez, tournez, traversez, and prenez la première rue create a route that is easier to remember than a dense location description.
Core rule: Formal or plural directions use vous commands; tourner takes à gauche/droite, while a turning point can follow au or à la.
Notice it in context
Continuez tout droit, tournez à gauche et traversez la place.
Go straight, turn left, and cross the square.
All three commands use the vous ending -ez and preserve a clear action sequence.
Tournez à droite au feu.
Turn right at the traffic light.
À droite gives direction; au feu gives the turning point.
La banque est au bout de la rue.
The bank is at the end of the street.
Au bout de locates a destination at the far end of a path.
What to remember
- Un feu can mean a traffic light, fire, or stove burner; the street context selects traffic light.
- Coin is a corner or area; carrefour is an intersection or crossroads.
Common trap: Do not use dans la gauche for “to the left.” Direction is à gauche; position can be sur la gauche.