In English if you want to be polite or address someone with respect you can do it by adding phrases or words to help you do that. For example: please, excuse me, pardon me, etc.
When asking for directions it is always important to try to be polite with the person you are asking for help. Here you have some expressions you can use to ask for directions and be polite at the same time.
Do not forget to use them when it is necessary or to show you are a respectful and well-educated person.
First, you must greet people, so you can use:
- Excuse me!
- Hello!
- Good morning/ afternoon/ night!
For example:
- Excuse me, could you help me, please?
- Hello! May I ask for some help?
Now that you have the person’s attention, you are ready to ask for help. To do that, you can use these expressions:
- Could you tell me how to get to…?
- Do you know where the (place) is?
- Where can I find the..?
Some questions or phrases may not sound polite but if you add “please” at the end of each one, you will sound very respectful. Do not forget to use “please” to show respect and “thank you” to show your gratitude. These two words are essential in any language and help you demolish many walls around you.
- Could you tell me how to get to the police station, please?
- Do you know where the bus station is, please?
If you need to learn more phrases to ask for directions, you can review the topic Where is...?
Listen to the following audio about a couple asking for directions. Check the polite sentences, phrases or questions they used to ask for directions.
