Polite Questions and Directions

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

A2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Sentence reordering

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Could you
   • pharmacy is?
   • tell me
   • the nearest
   • where
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Could you tell me where the nearest pharmacy is?

   An embedded where-question uses statement order after tell me.

2. Question 2 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Do you
   • know
   • opens?
   • the museum
   • what time
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Do you know what time the museum opens?

   The embedded question places the museum before opens.

3. Question 3 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Please
   • at
   • left
   • the next crossroads.
   • turn
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Please turn left at the next crossroads.

   The imperative turn is followed by left and the landmark.

4. Question 4 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • The hotel
   • cafe near
   • is opposite
   • the bridge.
   • the small
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   The hotel is opposite the small cafe near the bridge.

   Is opposite introduces the cafe; near the bridge identifies the cafe.

5. Question 5 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Can you
   • how
   • show me
   • this ticket machine?
   • to use
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Can you show me how to use this ticket machine?

   How to use forms the complement of show me.

6. Question 6 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • I'd
   • like
   • this bus stops.
   • to know
   • where
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   I'd like to know where this bus stops.

   Would like takes to know; the embedded clause uses this bus stops.

7. Question 7 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Walk
   • straight ahead
   • the traffic lights.
   • until
   • you reach
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Walk straight ahead until you reach the traffic lights.

   Until introduces the endpoint clause you reach the traffic lights.

8. Question 8 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Could you
   • a map
   • give me
   • of
   • the town centre?
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Could you give me a map of the town centre?

   Give takes me before its object; of completes map.

9. Question 9 · Sentence reordering

   Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

   Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

   Sentence parts

   • Do you
   • is open?
   • know
   • the station
   • whether
   Check answers and explanations

   Correct order

   Do you know whether the station is open?

   Whether introduces a statement-order yes/no clause.

10. Question 10 · Sentence reordering

    Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.

    Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.

    Sentence parts

    • Please
    • on your right.
    • take
    • the second
    • turning
    Check answers and explanations

    Correct order

    Please take the second turning on your right.

    The second turning forms the object; on your right completes the direction.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.