Location or route?
Where asks about location. How do I get to directly requests a route explanation. Both can help you find your way; they need not be treated as mutually exclusive.
Where is the village hall?
Where is the village hall?
The location is unknown.
How do I get to the village hall?
How do I get to the village hall?
A route explanation is needed.
A direct question with be
Put where first, then is for a singular or are for a plural, then the name. Do is not added to this question. A separate word such as located is unnecessary in this short pattern.
Where + is / are + place name + ?
Where is the small café?
Where is the small café?
The name of one place follows is.
Where are the changing rooms?
Where are the changing rooms?
A plural requires are.
Asking for a route
Learn How do I get to as a frame for asking how to reach a place. Do not reverse do I. Put to after get before a place name. If the place is already known, use get there without to.
How + do + I + get + to + place + ?
How do I get to the bus garage?
How do I get to the bus garage?
To introduces the destination.
How do I get there?
How do I get there?
There replaces a place already understood; do not put to before it.
A polite opening
Excuse me attracts attention before a question. If the other person has already offered help, you can ask directly. A question without an introduction is not thereby ungrammatical.
Excuse me, where is the sports hall?
Excuse me, where is the sports hall?
The attention-getting phrase precedes the question.
Contractions and place names
Where’s means Where is in these questions. The contraction is natural in conversation and does not change the meaning. With plurals, use the full Where are here. Place names often need the; with a room number, use room + number without the.
Where's the nearest café?
Where's the nearest café?
Where’s contracts Where is.
Where is room five?
Where is room five?
The number identifies the room.
A question starts the conversation
Our aim is to obtain information. A location description or movement directions are the other person’s answer, not a substitute for the question. If you know a name but not the location, use it in your next question.
Where is the visitor centre?
Where is the visitor centre?
The question requests information; British centre can be replaced by American center.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Where the post office is?
Correct:Where is the post office?
In a standalone direct question, be precedes the subject.
Incorrect:Where are the restaurant?
Correct:Where is the restaurant?
Restaurant is singular, so is is needed.
Incorrect:How I do get to the stadium?
Correct:How do I get to the stadium?
Place the auxiliary do before I.
Incorrect:How do I get the town hall?
Correct:How do I get to the town hall?
To is needed before a place name when expressing how to get to it.