Giving taxi directions | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a taxi, a passenger gives directions to a clinic entrance and agrees where the driver should stop..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Giving taxi directions to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada de la clínica, por favor?

poh-DREE-ah deh-HAR-nos SER-kah deh lah en-TRAH-dah deh lah KLEE-nee-kah, por fah-VOR Could you drop us near the clinic entrance, please?
B

¿Está justo después de la intersección principal?

ehs-TAH HOOS-toh deh-SPWES deh lah een-ter-sek-SYOHN preen-see-PAHL? Is that just past the main intersection?
A

Gire a la izquierda después del banco.

HEE-reh ah lah ees-KYEHR-dah deh-SPWES dehl BAHN-koh. Turn left after the bank.
A

Luego siga por la carretera hacia la farmacia.

LWEH-goh SEE-gah por lah kah-rreh-TEH-rah AH-syah lah far-MAH-syah. Then follow the road toward the pharmacy.
B

¿Debo seguir todo recto después de girar?

DEH-boh seh-GEER TOH-doh REHK-toh deh-SPWES deh hee-RAHR? Should I keep going straight after the turn?
A

Siga todo recto hasta que la farmacia quede a su derecha.

SEE-gah TOH-doh REHK-toh AHS-tah keh lah far-MAH-syah KEH-deh ah soo deh-REH-chah. Keep going until the pharmacy is on your right.
B

¿Dónde quiere que me detenga?

DOHN-deh KYEH-reh keh meh deh-TEN-gah? Where would you like me to stop?
A

Cualquier lugar cerca de la puerta principal está bien.

KWAHL-kyehr loo-GAHR SER-kah deh lah PWEHR-tah preen-see-PAHL ehs-TAH byen. Anywhere near the front door is fine.
B

Puedo parar justo después de la entrada.

PWEH-doh pah-RAHR HOOS-toh deh-SPWES deh lah en-TRAH-dah. I can pull over just beyond the entrance.

Word by Word

Podría “Podría” makes a polite request for the driver to do something, as in “¿Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada de la clínica, por favor?”. Use “Podría” before an action when making a courteous request, such as asking for a taxi to stop somewhere.
dejarnos “Dejarnos” means to drop us off or leave us at a place; “nos” identifies the people being dropped off. In “Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada”, it completes the polite request to the driver. Use “dejarnos” when asking someone to take or leave a group at a location.
cerca “Cerca” means near in “cerca de la entrada de la clínica”. The expression “cerca de” places something close to a person, building, or landmark. Use it when the exact location is not directly at the landmark.
de In “cerca de la entrada”, “de” links the location expression “cerca” to the place that serves as the reference point. The pattern “cerca de” is used before a person, building, or landmark. Here it identifies the clinic entrance as the nearby place.
la “La” is the article used before “entrada” in “la entrada de la clínica”. It marks that specific entrance as the reference point. Use “la” before a singular noun in a phrase such as “la entrada” when referring to a particular place or thing.
entrada “Entrada” means entrance in “la entrada de la clínica”. It identifies the place where the passenger wants to be dropped off. Use “entrada” when giving directions to the way into a building, for example in “cerca de la entrada”.
clínica “Clínica” means clinic in “la entrada de la clínica”. It identifies the building whose entrance is the destination. Use it after “de la” when specifying that something belongs to or is associated with the clinic.
por favor “Por favor” is the polite expression “please” in “¿Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada de la clínica, por favor?”. “Por” is the first part of the expression and “favor” refers to the favor being requested; together they soften the request. Use “por favor” at the beginning or end of a courteous request.
Está “Está” means is located in the question “¿Está justo después de la intersección principal?”. It asks whether the destination is in the location being described. Use “Está” with a place or object when checking its location; the same form appears as “está” in “está bien” when it is not at the start of a sentence.
justo “Justo” means just or exactly in “justo después de la intersección principal”. It makes the location precise, indicating a point immediately beyond the intersection. Use “justo” before a location expression when you want to mark an exact position.
después “Después” means after in “después de la intersección principal”. It places one turn or location later than a landmark. Use “después de” before a place or event when giving directions based on what comes next.
intersección “Intersección” means intersection in “la intersección principal”. It names the crossing used as a landmark in the directions. Use “intersección” when identifying a point where roads meet.
principal “Principal” means main in “la intersección principal”. It specifies which intersection the speaker means. Use it after a place noun when distinguishing the main or most important one from others.
Gire “Gire” tells the driver to turn in “Gire a la izquierda después del banco”. It is a polite direction addressed to the driver. Use “Gire” before a direction such as “a la izquierda” when instructing someone where to turn.
a In “a la izquierda”, “a” points toward the direction of the turn. Together with “la izquierda”, it tells the driver which way to turn. Use “a” in a direction phrase such as “Gire a la izquierda” when specifying the side or direction.
izquierda “Izquierda” means left in “Gire a la izquierda”. It identifies the side toward which the driver should turn. Use it after “a la” to give a left-turn instruction.
del “Del” means from or after the in “después del banco”; it combines the relation word “de” with “el”. Here it links the turn to the bank as the landmark. Use “después del” before a masculine landmark when giving directions based on what comes after it.
banco “Banco” means bank in “después del banco”. It serves as the landmark after which the driver should turn. Use “banco” when identifying a bank as a place or reference point.
Luego “Luego” means then and marks the next step in “Luego siga por la carretera hacia la farmacia”. It connects this instruction to the preceding turn. Use “Luego” at the start of a direction when giving the next action in sequence.
siga “Siga” means follow or continue in “Luego siga por la carretera hacia la farmacia”; sentence-initial “Siga” carries the same direction in “Siga todo recto”. It tells the driver to continue along a route politely. Use “siga por” before a road or route, or “Siga todo recto” for continued straight movement.
por In “siga por la carretera”, “por” means along or by way of the road. It shows the route that the driver should follow. Use “por” before a road or route when explaining which path to take.
carretera “Carretera” means road in “siga por la carretera”. It names the route the driver should follow. Use “carretera” when directing someone along a road toward a destination.
hacia “Hacia” means toward in “hacia la farmacia”. It identifies the direction or destination of the road. Use “hacia” before a place when giving the general direction to it.
farmacia “Farmacia” means pharmacy in “hacia la farmacia” and “hasta que la farmacia quede a su derecha”. It is both a destination reference and a landmark in the directions. Use “farmacia” when identifying a pharmacy as a place to reach or pass.
Debo “Debo” asks whether the speaker should or must do something in “¿Debo seguir todo recto después de girar?”. It checks the next required or expected action after turning. Use “Debo” before an action when asking whether you are supposed to do it.
seguir “Seguir” means continue or keep going in “Debo seguir todo recto”. It is the action the driver is checking before proceeding. Use “seguir” with a route or direction, such as “seguir todo recto”, when describing continued movement.
todo In “todo recto”, “todo” adds the idea of continuing the whole way without changing direction. It strengthens the instruction to continue straight. Use “todo recto” when telling someone to keep going straight along the route.
recto “Recto” means straight in “seguir todo recto” and “Siga todo recto”. It describes the direction of continued travel. Use it with “seguir” or “Siga” when the driver should not turn yet.
girar “Girar” means to turn in “después de girar”. It names the turn that has already been mentioned as the point after which the driver continues straight. Use “después de” followed by “girar” when describing what should happen after turning.
hasta “Hasta” means until in “hasta que la farmacia quede a su derecha”. It sets the point at which the instruction to continue ends. Use “hasta que” before a situation that marks the endpoint of movement.
que In “hasta que la farmacia quede a su derecha”, “que” introduces the situation that marks the endpoint. It connects “hasta” with the clause describing the pharmacy’s position. Use “hasta que” when an action continues until a specific condition occurs.
quede “Quede” describes the pharmacy being positioned on the driver’s right in “hasta que la farmacia quede a su derecha”. It identifies the point at which the driver should stop going straight. Use it in the pattern “hasta que” plus a place and its resulting position.
su “Su” means your in “a su derecha”, referring here to the driver’s right side. It identifies whose side is being used as the reference point. Use “su” before a noun when referring to something belonging to or associated with the person being addressed.
derecha “Derecha” means right in “a su derecha”. It tells the driver where the pharmacy should appear relative to the vehicle. Use it after “a su” when giving a right-side location.
Dónde “Dónde” means where in “¿Dónde quiere que me detenga?”. It asks for the location of the requested stop. Use “Dónde” at the beginning of a question when asking about a place or stopping point.
quiere “Quiere” expresses wants or would like in “¿Dónde quiere que me detenga?”. The driver asks which stopping location the passenger prefers. Use “quiere que” to ask what someone wants another person to do.
me “Me” identifies the speaker as the person who will stop in “me detenga”. It shows that the requested stopping action involves the speaker. Use “me” before a verb when referring to an action involving the speaker.
detenga “Detenga” expresses the stopping action in “¿Dónde quiere que me detenga?”. With “me”, the question asks where the speaker should bring the taxi to a stop. Use “quiere que me detenga” when asking where someone wants the speaker to stop.
Cualquier “Cualquier” means any in “Cualquier lugar cerca de la puerta principal”. It shows that no particular place is required, as long as it is near the door. Use “cualquier” before a singular place or thing when any suitable one is acceptable.
lugar “Lugar” means place or spot in “Cualquier lugar cerca de la puerta principal”. It refers to a possible stopping location. Use “lugar” when discussing where someone can stand, stop, meet, or leave something.
puerta “Puerta” means door in “la puerta principal”. It identifies the building feature used as the final reference point. Use “puerta” with a location expression such as “cerca de” when giving directions to a door.
bien “Bien” means fine or okay in “está bien”. It contributes the idea that the proposed stopping place is acceptable. Use “está bien” when accepting an arrangement or saying that a suggested option is suitable.
Puedo “Puedo” means I can in “Puedo parar justo después de la entrada”. The driver uses it to offer a possible stopping action and location. Use “Puedo” before an action when stating that you are able or willing to do it.
parar “Parar” means to stop or pull over in “Puedo parar justo después de la entrada”. It is the action the driver offers to perform at the suggested point. Use “Puedo parar” when offering to stop a vehicle at a particular location.

Grammar Points

¿Podría + infinitivo...?

¿Podría dejarnos?

poh-DREE-ah deh-HAR-nos

Could you drop us off?

Use podría plus an infinitive to make a polite request. Podría is a conditional form of poder.

hasta que + subjuntivo

hasta que quede a su derecha

AHS-tah keh KEH-deh ah soo deh-REH-chah

until it is on your right

After hasta que, use the subjunctive when referring to an expected future point or condition.

Spanish Vocabulary

a la izquierda phrase
ah lah ees-KYEHR-dah to the left

Gire a la izquierda después del banco.

banco noun
BAHN-koh bank

después del banco

cerca de prep
SER-kah deh near

¿Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada de la clínica, por favor?

clínica noun
KLEE-nee-kah clinic

la entrada de la clínica

dejar verb
deh-HAR to drop off; to leave dejarnos

¿Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada de la clínica, por favor?

entrada noun
en-TRAH-dah entrance

la entrada de la clínica

girar verb
hee-RAHR to turn gire

Gire a la izquierda después del banco.

intersección noun
een-ter-sek-SYOHN intersection

la intersección principal

justo después de phrase
HOOS-toh deh-SPWES deh just past; just after

¿Está justo después de la intersección principal?

poder verb
poh-DEHR can; could podría

¿Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada de la clínica, por favor?

por favor phrase
por fah-VOR please

¿Podría dejarnos cerca de la entrada de la clínica, por favor?

principal adj
preen-see-PAHL main

la intersección principal

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Where would you like me to stop?

Show Answer¿Dónde quiere que me detenga?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

can; could

Show Answerpodría

to drop off; to leave

Show Answerdejarnos

main

Show Answerprincipal

clinic

Show Answerclínica