to make a second left? Is it correct?
I was watching a ESL video, and at a certain part as below, I doubted my ear.
2:13 Just go down this street, and make a second left. You'll have to walk down that street about a kilometer, and the police station is across from Robionsons.2:22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYC6qRckNRE

I'm not sure whether I heard is "make a second left" or "make the second left", but I guess it won'd matter that much to post this question. Is either make a second left or make the second left correct?

Instead of "Just go down this street, and make a second left." I know following sentences in this case:

Just go down the street for two blocks and take a left.
Just go down the street and make a left on the second block"
That'll be just down the street about two blocks and then left about a kilometer.

to make a left or to turn left can be used for to take a left.2nd paragraph: * won'd matterwon't matter

Question

to make a second left? Is it correct?
I was watching a ESL video, and at a certain part as below, I doubted my ear.
2:13 Just go down this street, and make a second left. You'll have to walk down that street about a kilometer, and the police station is across from Robionsons.2:22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYC6qRckNRE

I'm not sure whether I heard is "make a second left" or "make the second left", but I guess it won'd matter that much to post this question. Is either make a second left or make the second left correct?

Instead of "Just go down this street, and make a second left." I know following sentences in this case:

Just go down the street for two blocks and take a left.
Just go down the street and make a left on the second block"
That'll be just down the street about two blocks and then left about a kilometer.

to make a left or to turn left can be used for to take a left.2nd paragraph: * won'd matter>won't matter

Answer

I've listened to the video, and yes, that is exactly what she says : 'make the second left'.

It doesn't sound 100% natural to me, either. If I'm not mistaken, it's normal in US English to say either 'make a left' or 'take the second left', but 'make the second left' sounds like an awkward mixture of the two. But I could be wrong.

If any US members would like to set me right on this - feel free!

Answer

Yes make a left is AmEng and is commonly asked when asking for directions.

In BrEng we would say something like " go down the road and and take a second left" or sometimes "turn left at/on the second corner"

Answer

In America we say make the second left, not a second left.

Answers · 5

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