To ask the way, start with and ask : Excuse me, where is the station? asks if someone knows the way. The answer is a string of short pieces: which way, which street, how far.
The way is given in the imperative, the form you know from and : the present without its person letter. , you turn, gives , turn! , you walk, gives , go! To two or more people it ends in -u: , . So Marija sends you off with , and you and Tonio together with .
Telling someone the way
| Present | Imperative | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| turn | |||
| turn | |||
| walk, go | |||
| walk, go | |||
| take | |||
| take | |||
| wait | |||
| wait | |||
| look | |||
| look | |||
| come | |||
| come | |||
After a vowel the plural ending is -w: ; changes its last vowel: . has nothing to do with , you come; it is a word of its own. Don't is the present with -x, as you know: Don't be late!
Which way: , to the right, , to the left, , straight on. Here does not mean on: is simply to the right, and also on the right, where something is. The streets are counted with the ordinals: , the first street, , the second. At the corner is ; then is .
Which way?
| Word | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| to the right, on the right · Turn right. | ||
| to the right, on the right · Turn right. | ||
| to the left, on the left · The station is on the left. | ||
| to the left, on the left · The station is on the left. | ||
| straight on · Go straight on. | ||
| straight on · Go straight on. | ||
| · | the first street · the second street · Take the second street on the right. | |
| the first street · the second street · Take the second street on the right. | ||
| at the corner · At the corner, turn left. | ||
| at the corner · At the corner, turn left. | ||
| then · Then go straight on. | ||
| then · Then go straight on. | ||
How far: , close, and , far. Both stand alone, , or with a place: , near the valley, and , far from home, with . How long it takes goes with , on foot:
How far?
| Word | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| close · The café is close. | ||
| close · The café is close. | ||
| far · The station is far. | ||
| far · The station is far. | ||
| not far · The valley isn't far. | ||
| not far · The valley isn't far. | ||
| by, next to · Straight on, along the valley. | ||
| by, next to · Straight on, along the valley. | ||
| on foot · Five minutes on foot. | ||
| on foot · Five minutes on foot. | ||
Fl-ewwel triq dur fuq ix-xellug. Imbagħad imxi dritt.At the first street, turn left. Then go straight on.
Fuq il-lemin, u fil-kantuniera dur fuq ix-xellug.To the right, and at the corner turn left.
Imxi dritt, ħdejn il-wied. Ħames minuti bil-mixi.Go straight on, along the valley. Five minutes on foot.
Intom it-tnejn: duru fuq ix-xellug, u stennew fl-istazzjon.You two: turn left, and wait at the station.
Il-kafetterija qrib, imma l-istazzjon bogħod.The café is close, but the station is far.
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Find the words
Tap the verbs that tell someone what to do.
. .
At the first street, turn left. Then go straight on.
, , !
You two, turn right, and go straight on!
, .
Take the second street, both of you, and wait at the corner.
! .
Come with me, both of you! The station is close.
! !
Look, you two! Ċikku is at the corner!
! !
Look, you two! Ċikku is at the corner!
, ! !
Ċikku, wait! Come here!
, ! !
Ċikku, wait! Come here!
Practice 2/5 · The right form
One person or two?
One person gets the imperative alone; two or more get the plural.
fuq ix-xellug, u mbagħad imxi dritt.
Turn left, and then go straight on. (to you)
Intom it-tnejn, fuq il-lemin!
You two, turn right!
dritt, ħdejn il-wied.
Go straight on, along the valley. (to you)
Għada, malajr, it-tnejn!
Tomorrow, walk fast, both of you!
t-tieni triq fuq il-lemin, it-tnejn.
Take the second street on the right, both of you.
, tuffieħa għalik!
Here, an apple for you!
hawn, it-tnejn!
Wait here, both of you!
miegħi, it-tnejn!
Come with me, both of you!
, it-tnejn! Ċikku fil-kantuniera!
Look, you two! Ċikku is at the corner!
, it-tnejn! Ċikku fil-kantuniera!
Look, you two! Ċikku is at the corner!
Ċikku, !
Ċikku, wait!
Ċikku, !
Ċikku, wait!
Which way, how far?
Choose the right word for the gap.
L-istazzjon . Għoxrin minuta bil-mixi.
The station is far. Twenty minutes on foot.
Il-kafetterija , ħames minuti bil-mixi.
The café is close, five minutes on foot.
Dur fuq .
Turn left.
Dur fuq .
Turn right.
Imxi .
Go straight on.
Ħu triq.
Take the second street.
dur fuq ix-xellug.
At the corner, turn left.
triq?
At the first street?
triq?
At the first street?
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
Three neighbours, three ways
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
L-istazzjon . Fl-ewwel triq fuq ix-xellug.
The station is far. At the first street, turn left.
dritt, it-tnejn, u fil-kantuniera fuq il-lemin.
Go straight on, both of you, and at the corner turn right.
miegħi! Ħames minuti .
Come with me, both of you! Five minutes on foot.
t-tieni triq, u fil-kantuniera.
Take the second street, both of you, and wait at the corner.
! Ċikku il-wied!
Look, you two! Ċikku is by the valley!
! Ċikku il-wied!
Look, you two! Ċikku is by the valley!
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Put the words in order
Put the words in order.
Excuse me, where is the station?
Excuse me, where is the station?
At the first street, turn left.
Go straight on, then turn right, both of you.
Take the second street on the right, both of you.
Come with me, both of you, the station is close.
Wait here, both of you.
Look, you two, Ċikku is at the corner!
Look, you two, Ċikku is at the corner!
The station is far, but the valley is close.
Practice 5/5 · In situations
The right words
Choose the right words for the situation.
You need the station. Ask a woman in the street.
You say:
You need the station. Ask a woman in the street.
You say:
A stranger asks you the way. Tell her: straight on, then left.
You say:
She is one person, so imxi and dur; and xellug is left.
A stranger asks you the way. Tell her: straight on, then left.
You say:
She is one person, so imxi and dur; and xellug is left.
Tonio and Ella ask you the way to the café. It's to the right, at the corner.
You say:
Two people: duru.
Tonio and Ella ask you the way to the café. It's to the right, at the corner.
You say:
Two people: duru.
Marija tells you that the station is a long way away.
Marija says:
Ġorġ tells you and Tonio to come with him.
Ġorġ says:
Tell Tonio and Ella to wait here.
You say:
Tell Tonio and Ella to wait here.
You say:
Unit complete
