Places around town – where are you going?
CEFR: A1
Read/Listen first
Today I walk in my city. There is a small supermarket on the corner. There is a bank next to it. Across the street, there is a coffee shop and a hotel. I am going to the post office to send a letter. My friend is going to the library to read. We look at the map and say, where are you going today.⚡ Learning goals
- Can understand a short text about places in a city.
- Can say if there is a place in their city.
- Can say where they are going in town.
✨ Key language
- There is a supermarket. “There is a supermarket on the corner.”
- Is there a bank? “Is there a bank in your city?”
- I am going to the post office. “I am going to the post office today.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ There is a + place
Rule: Use “There is a” + place to say that one place exists in your city or street.Examples: There is a supermarket on the corner.; There is a bank next to it.; There is a coffee shop on this street.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners say “There are a supermarket.” — Say “There is a supermarket.” for one place.
Choose the correct sentence.
Tip: Remember, use “There is a” + one place.
Fill with the best answer: ____ a bank next to it.
Tip: Start with “There is” for one place.
2️⃣ Is there a + place?
Rule: Use “Is there a” + place to ask if a place is in your city or street.Examples: Is there a bank in your city?; Is there a hotel on this street?; Is there a library near here?
Common pitfall + fix: Learners say “There is a bank?” — Change the word order to “Is there a bank?”.
Choose the correct question.
Tip: A yes/no question starts with “Is”.
Fill with the best answer: ________ hotel on this street?
Tip: Put “Is” at the beginning of the question.
3️⃣ I am going to the + place
Rule: Use “I am going to the” + place to say where you are going now or soon.Examples: I am going to the post office.; I am going to the supermarket.; I am going to the hotel.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners say “I go to the post office now.” — Say “I am going to the post office.” for now or today.
Choose the correct sentence.
Tip: Use “am going to the” plus the place.
Fill with the best answer: I am ______ to the supermarket.
Tip: After “am”, use “going” to talk about movement now.
4️⃣ Where are you going?
Rule: Use “Where are you going?” to ask about someone’s plan or movement now.Examples: Where are you going today?; Where are you going in this street?; Where are you going after the supermarket?
Common pitfall + fix: Learners say “Where you are going?” — Change the word order to “Where are you going?”.
Choose the correct question.
Tip: Put “are you” after “Where”.
Fill with the best answer: “________ ________ ________ ?” asked John.
Tip: Use the full question “Where are you going?”.
✍️ Vocabulary
supermarket
Meaning: a large food store in your city.Synonyms: grocery store, food shop
Chunk/Idiom: go to the supermarket
Example: I go to the supermarket on Saturday.
Morphology: noun; countable
Self-practice: Say three things you can buy at the supermarket.
bank
Meaning: a place where you keep and get money.Synonyms: money place, financial building
Chunk/Idiom: go to the bank
Example: There is a bank next to the supermarket.
Morphology: noun; countable
Self-practice: Say why you go to the bank in your city.
coffee shop
Meaning: a small place where you can drink coffee or tea.Synonyms: café, small restaurant
Chunk/Idiom: meet at the coffee shop
Example: We meet at the coffee shop on this street.
Morphology: noun; countable phrase
Self-practice: Say who you can meet at a coffee shop.
hotel
Meaning: a place where people sleep when they visit a city.Synonyms: guest house, travel hotel
Chunk/Idiom: stay at a hotel
Example: There is a hotel across the street from the coffee shop.
Morphology: noun; countable
Self-practice: Say one reason people stay at a hotel.
post office
Meaning: a place where you send letters and small boxes.Synonyms: mail place, postal office
Chunk/Idiom: go to the post office
Example: I am going to the post office to send a letter.
Morphology: noun; countable phrase
Self-practice: Say one thing you can send from the post office.
library
Meaning: a quiet place where you can read or borrow books.Synonyms: book place, reading room
Chunk/Idiom: go to the library
Example: My friend is going to the library to read.
Morphology: noun; countable
Self-practice: Say what you like to read at the library.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
There is a supermarket on the corner.
There is a bank next to the coffee shop.
I am going to the post office today.
Where are you going in this street?
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the correct sentence from the story.
Tip: Read the first line of the text again.
Make a correct question about the bank.
Tip: Start the question with “Is there”.
Fill with the best answer:
I am going to the _________ to send a letter.Tip: Look for the place in the text where you send a letter.
Fill with the best answer:
My friend is going to the ________ to read.Tip: Find the quiet place with books in the story.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Where is your friend going?
Tip: Read the sentence about your friend again.
Where is the supermarket?
Tip: Look at the second sentence of the text.
Fill with the best answer:
Across the street, there is a ________ and a hotel.Tip: It is the place where you can drink coffee.
Fill with the best answer:
We look at the ________ and say, “Where are you going today?”Tip: This helps you see the streets in your city.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: Where are you going today?B: I am going to the library.
A: Is there a library near the bank?
Why this matters:
These questions help you talk about real places in your city. You can ask for simple information on the street. You can also explain where you are going today.Verb & Adjective Pack:
go to — I go to the supermarket after work.walk — We walk to the bank on this street.
near — The coffee shop is near the hotel.
small — There is a small supermarket on the corner.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: There ______ a hotel next to the coffee shop.
Tip: Use “is” for one hotel.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: I am go to the supermarket.
Tip: Remember the full form “am going to the”.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
I am going to the post office.
Tip: Listen to the rhythm of “going to the”.