A1 Grammar - Lesson 9: Giving Directions (Printable)

1. Imperative (Command Forms – 'du' form)

2. 'bis zu' + Dative – 'as far as' / 'until'

3. Prepositions for Directions (Accusative vs. Dative)

Accusative (movement towards): 'durch' (through), 'an' (to).
Example: 'durch den Park' (through the park – accusative)
Dative (location/position): 'an' (at), 'neben' (next to), 'auf' (on), 'gegenüber' (opposite), 'hinter' (behind), 'vor' (in front of).
Example: 'neben der Bank' (next to the bank – dative)
Key difference: Movement (where to?) → accusative. Location (where?) → dative.

4. 'vorbei' – 'past' (separable prefix verb)

'vorbeigehen' means 'to go past'. The prefix 'vorbei-' separates and goes to the end.
Structure: 'an' + dative + 'vorbei'.
Example: 'Geh am Park vorbei.' (Go past the park)
'Geh an der Kirche vorbei.' (Go past the church)

5. Asking for Directions – Question Words

6. Giving Directions – Key Phrases

Straight / turns: 'geradeaus' (straight ahead), 'nach links/rechts' (to the left/right), 'links/rechts abbiegen' (to turn left/right).
Landmarks (with prepositions): 'an der Ampel' (at the traffic light), 'auf der rechten/linken Seite' (on the right/left side), 'neben der Bank' (next to the bank), 'gegenüber vom Kino' (opposite the cinema), 'hinter dem Supermarkt' (behind the supermarket), 'vor dem Park' (in front of the park).
Confirmation: 'Genau!' (Exactly!), 'Richtig!' (Correct!), 'Also:' (So / therefore).

7. Time Expressions for Directions

8. Vocabulary – Places & Directions

Places: 'die Post' (post office), 'die Bank' (bank), 'der Park' (park), 'das Kino' (cinema), 'der Bahnhof' (train station), 'die Kirche' (church), 'der Supermarkt' (supermarket).
Direction words: 'geradeaus', 'links/rechts', 'die Ampel' (traffic light), 'die Ecke' (corner).
Verbs: 'gehen' (to go/walk), 'kommen' (to come), 'sehen' (to see), 'abbiegen' (to turn – separable), 'vorbeigehen' (to go past – separable), 'dauern' (to take time).

9. Example Dialogue

'Entschuldigung, ich suche die Post.' – Excuse me, I'm looking for the post office.
'Geh geradeaus bis zur Ampel.' – Go straight ahead to the traffic light.
'An der Ampel gehst du nach links.' – At the traffic light, turn left.
'Dann siehst du einen Park.' – Then you'll see a park.
'Geh am Park vorbei.' – Go past the park.
'Die Post ist auf der rechten Seite, neben der Bank.' – The post office is on the right, next to the bank.
'Es dauert nur fünf Minuten zu Fuß.' – It takes only five minutes on foot.

📌 Summary of Key Structures

📘 Lesson 9: Giving Directions