Expressions for Asking and Giving Directions

Saat kita merada di suatu tempat yang baru dan belum mengenal suatu tempat, kita mungkin bertanya kepada orang lain agar menunjukan dimana tempat yang ingin kita tuju, jalan apa yang harus kita tempuh, dan bagaimana kita bisa sampai ke tempat tujuan yang baru tersebut. Maka, ungkapan asking for directions dapat kita gunakan. Dan tentu, orang yang menunjukkan jalan, tempat, dan cara untuk mencapai tujuan yang kita tanyakan akan menggunakan ungkapan giving directions. 

Berikut contoh percakapan atau dialog yang berkaitan dengan asking and giving directions.

A: Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the nearest Sundanese Restaurant?
B: Sure, Go forth on this street until you come to the end of the street.
A: Go forth to the end of this street.
B: Correct, then, turn right and go forth, until you come to the stop light.
A: Turn right and go forth to the stop light.
B: Right, then turn left and go 20 meters. The restaurant is on your right across the KFC.
A: OK, let me see if I’ve got this straight. Going forth on this street to the end of the street, turning right and going straight to the stop light, and then turning left and going for 20 meters; It's on the right, across the KFC.
B: You got it.
A: Thanks.

Expressions used in asking for and giving directions.

Asking for Directions
• Could you tell me how to get to the......?
• Pardon me, I'm lost, how do I get to the ....?
• Could you direct me to ....?
• Would you mind giving me information of how to go to …….?
• Excuse me, could you tell me where is the ………, please?
• Could you show me the best route to …..?
• Which way should I go to get to .....?
• Which is the best route to the .......?
• How do I find .......?

Giving Directions
• Go to the next stop light, turn right, then go two blocks, it’s on the left.
• Just go straight, it’s on this street, on
   the right, about two hundred meters away.
• Go to Sudirman street and turn right. The city hospital is in
   the middle of the block, across from the post office.
• Drive to the second stop light and turn left. Then go to
   the third stop sign. The city library is on that corner.
• Take Cihampelas Street to the Wastu Kencana street
   and head west.

Contoh Teks Narative-A Cold Heart Jeweler

Contoh Teks Narative-A Cold Heart Jeweler berikut disadur dari cerita The Jeweler story karya Kasper Hoe.

Ilustrasi-Foto oleh Dima D dari Pexels

It’s a tale about a cold heart jeweler, a lady, a boy and a young lady. He was not married but loved gold. When he, after many years, was getting old he realized that it was time to quit... 

The Jeweler

:(Locking the door, he said to himself.) it’s the last time I lock this door

 (Then he sat on his favorite chair. When he was sitting, a dirty lady knocked the door. He then opened it)

The lady

: (silently) excuse me, Sir; I seek shelter from the cold

The Jeweler

: (looking at her from top to toe) well, then you  should seek it somewhere else.

(In the next evening, a little boy knocked the door. The jeweler then opened it)

The boy

: (with tears in his eyes) Sorry, Sir; I seek shelter from the cold.

The Jeweler

: (looking at him) then look for it somewhere else.

(A couple days and nights later, a beautiful young lady knocked the door. The jeweler then opened it)

The Jeweler

: (gently) are you seeking shelter from the cold? You’re welcome here

The young lady

: I see. I’m welcome in your house, but  you’d never offer the poor people a piece of shelter from the cold night

The Jeweler

: (sighing) I guess not, but they disgusted me

The young lady

:(going to a window and pointing outside) they died in the cold night because of your cold heart and shallowness. And  that will also be the things that will kill you one day.

The Jeweler

:(getting scared and kneeling) I’m sorry,  I’m begging you. It shall never happen again

The beautiful young lady

: it’s too late, your cold heart is going to be your own destiny (turned around and disappeared)

(The following morning, the jeweler was lying on the bed. He didn’t breathe, he didn’t move, he was dead) 

The young lady

: (standing next to his bed and bending over) I told you that your cold heart would be your own destiny and that what exactly what happened.

Modified from The Jeweler story by Kasper Hoe at helium.com

Expressions for Blaming, Accusing, Admitting and Making a Promise

Expressions for Blaming and Accusing
• You are the one to blame.
• I think you're the only person who could have done it.
• It's your fault.
• It's your fault for breaking the rules.

 Expressions for Admitting Doing Something Wrong
• I admit I forgot to turn out the light.
• I admit that I’m wrong.
• I confess I've done it
• It’s my fault

 Expressions for Making a Promise
• I swear that I won't make the same mistake.
• I promise you that I won't let you down.

A dialogue for Practice

Mr Suherman : Dadi... did you write this essay?

Dadi                : Yes, Sir.

Mr Suherman : You didn't write it, did you? I think you copied it from a journal or somewhere else.

Dadi                : I'm afraid that isn't true.

Mr Suherman : Really? I've read this article. It's Mr Hartono's essay, isn’t it?

Dadi                : That's right, Sir. I have to admit I downloaded it from the Internet. I regret it.

Mr Suherman : It's good that you admitted it.

Dadi                : I do apologise, Sir.

Mr Suherman : Apology accepted but you have to be punished. You have to write two essays on different social phenomena.

Dadi                : Yes, Sir. I honestly regret doing this shameful thing. I promise I won’t do it again.

Mr Suherman : You'd better keep your promise, or else you'll fail my subject.