Learn Hardcore German: Für dich: Geh geradeaus bis zur Brücke und biege links ab. - For you: go straight ahead to the bridge and turn left.

It’s a label that means “For you:” and introduces instructions aimed at a specific person. Grammatically it’s separate from the main clause; the colon shows that what follows is the content meant “for you.” You could simply omit it and say: Geh geradeaus bis zur Brücke und biege links ab. Writing Für dich, geh … is not idiomatic.

Why is it dich and not dir after für?

Because für always governs the accusative case. So you must use mich/dich/ihn/sie/uns/euch/sie, not dative forms like mir/dir.

Is Geh the correct imperative, or should it be Gehe?

Both are correct. Geh! is the common, everyday form; Gehe! can sound more formal or bookish. Other imperative forms:

Informal plural (ihr): Geht!
Formal (Sie): Gehen Sie!

Why biege and not bieg?

Both Biege! and Bieg! are acceptable du-imperatives. The -e ending is optional in many verbs; in everyday speech Bieg links ab! is very common, but Biege links ab! is also fine. Plural: Biegt links ab! Formal: Biegen Sie links ab!

Why is ab at the end of the clause?

Because abbiegen is a separable verb. In main clauses and imperatives, the prefix splits off and goes to the end: Bieg(e) links ab. In subordinate clauses it stays together: …, dass du links abbiegst.

Can I say nach links abbiegen instead of links abbiegen?

Yes. Links abbiegen and nach links abbiegen are both idiomatic with no real difference in meaning. The shorter links abbiegen is very common in directions.

Is geradeaus one word? Could I write gerade aus?

It’s one word: geradeaus. Don’t split it. It’s an adverb meaning “straight ahead.” You’ll also hear immer geradeaus (“keep going straight”).

Why is it bis zur Brücke and not bis die Brücke?

With a noun that has an article, standard German uses bis zu + dative to mean “up to”: bis zur (zu der) Brücke. Saying bis die Brücke is not idiomatic in standard German. Alternatives:

bis zur Brücke
bis an die Brücke (with an
- accusative because of motion)
Without an article, bis can stand alone: bis Berlin, bis Montag.

What exactly is zur?

Zur is the contraction of zu der (dative singular feminine). Because Brücke is feminine, you get zu der Brücke → zur Brücke. With masculine/neuter you’d have zum (= zu dem), e.g., zum Bahnhof.

What gender is Brücke, and how does that affect the form?

Brücke is feminine: die Brücke, dative singular der Brücke. That’s why zu der Brücke contracts to zur Brücke.

Is the word order around und/dann okay? Could I also say und dann biege links ab?

Yes. Both … und biege dann links ab and … und dann biege links ab are natural. In imperatives you can place dann before or after the verb: Dann biege links ab! / Biege dann links ab!

Can I split it into two sentences?

Absolutely: Geh geradeaus bis zur Brücke. Bieg(e) links ab. That’s very natural in step-by-step directions.

How would I say this formally to a stranger (Sie-form)?

Gehen Sie geradeaus bis zur Brücke und biegen Sie links ab.

Why is dich lowercase? I sometimes see Dich capitalized.

In ordinary text, du/dir/dich are lowercase. In letters and emails, capitalizing Du/Dir/Dich is permitted as a polite or personal style. Here, as a neutral label, lowercase dich is standard.

Does bis zur Brücke imply I shouldn’t cross the bridge?

Typically yes: it means “up to the bridge,” implying you reach it and then turn. If you want to cross it first, you’d say über die Brücke (e.g., Geh über die Brücke und biege dann links ab).

Any quick pronunciation tips for tricky words here?

dich: the ch is the “ich-sound” [ç], not like English “sh.”
Brücke: ü is a short, rounded vowel [ʏ] (like saying “bit” with rounded lips). Final -e is a schwa “BRY-kə.”
geradeaus: stress is typically on -aus: ge-ra-de-AUS.