À gauche, à droite, tout droit (Left, right, straight on)

1Which way?

Umutoni walks to school every morning. She knows the way so well that she could walk it with her eyes closed. But could she explain it to a visitor, in French?

Today you will learn the words that point the way: left, right and straight on.

2Read: Umutoni's way to school

Je sors de la maison. Je vais tout droit dans ma rue. Au carrefour, je tourne à gauche. Je passe devant la boutique. Je traverse la route au passage piéton. L'école est à droite, en face de l'église.

Je sors = I go out. Je passe devant = I go past. Je traverse = I cross.

3Words for directions

Careful: droite (right) and droit in tout droit (straight on) look alike. Tout droit means you do NOT turn at all.

4Grammar: telling someone which way to go

To give an instruction, use the verb without tu or vous, like the teacher's consignes in Unit 1.

The vous form ends in -ez. It is the polite one, so use it with a teacher, a parent or a visitor.

Your turn to speak: "Jacques a dit"

Play Simon Says in French. The leader says « Jacques a dit : tournez à gauche ! » and everyone turns left. If the leader does NOT say « Jacques a dit », do not move! Try: « Levez la main droite ! », « Allez tout droit ! », « Tournez à droite ! »

Try it yourself