Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[muni]

dear all
If I say that
"I am not good with directions"
then would it be a correct english

[bud]

Absolutely!

[advoca]

Hi Muni


If I say that "I am not good with directions" is this good English.

Yes, it is. However in what sense do you mean 'directions?'

Do you mean instructions that tell you what to do, how to do something, or how to get somewhere. An example of this might be driections on how to cook noodles or a cake, or how to get to a particular place. Do you mean that you do not find it easy to understand or follow such directions?

Do you mean directions in the sense of the general line that someone or something is moving or pointing in. (I am worried about the direction my studies are going. We stopped the car because we found out that Beijing was ten miles in the opposite direction.)

Also, the direction of a film, play, or television programme is the work that the director does while it is being made.

Bud is quite right. of course. What you said is good English, but perhaps you should make it clearer in what sense you mean directions.

[muni]

when i say i am not good with directions i meen instructions to get somewhere
but if i wanted to use this sentences for the other senses u mentioned would it be correct
and is there any other better way of saying the same thing

[obelix]

Please do not write "u" when you mean you It will make people think you are lazy or uneducated and it will cost you marks in any English test.

[bud]

For the situation you have in mind, your example is what is usually said. Another variation is "I'm bad with directions."

For the movie or play situation, you might say "I'm not good (I'm bad) at taking direction."

For the "cookbook" situation, "I'm not good (I'm bad) at following directions."

Hope that helps.

[muni]

thank you so much

[bud]

You're welcome!