השוטרת אמרה שהיציאה סגורה עכשיו, ולכן צריך להשתמש בכניסה השנייה.

ה־ is the Hebrew definite article, equivalent to the in English.

So:

• שוטרת = a policewoman

• השוטרת = the policewoman

• יציאה = an exit

• היציאה = the exit

• שנייה = second
• השנייה = the second

In Hebrew, ה־ is attached directly to the word, not written as a separate word.

The noun שוטרת is the feminine form of שוטר:

• שוטר = policeman / police officer
• שוטרת = policewoman / female police officer

The ending ־ת often appears in feminine nouns, and here it marks the feminine form clearly.

Because the word also has ה־, השוטרת means the policewoman.

Because the subject is feminine singular: השוטרת.

In the Hebrew past tense, verbs agree with the subject in gender and number:

• הוא אמר = he said
• היא אמרה = she said

So:

• השוטרת אמרה = the policewoman said

The ending ־ה in אמרה shows feminine singular in the past tense.

Here ש־ means that.

So:

• אמרה שהיציאה סגורה = she said that the exit is closed

This ש־ is a very common Hebrew connector. It is attached directly to the next word, so Hebrew writes:

• שהיציאה

not as two separate words.

In other contexts, ש־ can also mean things like which or because, but here it clearly means that.

Because in Hebrew, the verb to be is usually omitted in the present tense.

So Hebrew says:

• היציאה סגורה עכשיו

literally something like:

• the exit closed now

but it means:

• the exit is closed now

This is normal Hebrew grammar.

Compare:

• הדלת פתוחה = the door is open
• החנות סגורה = the store is closed

In past or future, Hebrew usually does use a form of to be:

• היציאה הייתה סגורה = the exit was closed
• היציאה תהיה סגורה = the exit will be closed

Because יציאה is a feminine noun, and adjectives in Hebrew usually agree with the noun in gender and number.

So:

• סגור = closed, masculine singular
• סגורה = closed, feminine singular

Since יציאה is feminine singular, the adjective must also be feminine singular:

• היציאה סגורה = the exit is closed

A similar pattern:

• החלון סגור = the window is closed
• הדלת סגורה = the door is closed

ולכן means and therefore, so, or and so.

It is made of:

• ו־ = and
• לכן = therefore

So the sentence moves from the reason to the result:

• היציאה סגורה עכשיו, ולכן...
• The exit is closed now, and therefore / so...

It sounds a bit more formal or structured than just אז (so) in casual speech.

Here צריך is being used in an impersonal, general way.

It means something like:

• one needs to
• it is necessary to
• you have to (general, not specifically you)

So:

• ולכן צריך להשתמש בכניסה השנייה
• and therefore one must use the second entrance

This is very common in Hebrew.

If the subject were specific, the form would change:

• היא צריכה להשתמש... = she needs to use...
• הם צריכים להשתמש... = they need to use...

But when no specific subject is stated, Hebrew often uses masculine singular צריך as a general impersonal form.

Because the verb להשתמש requires the preposition ב־, which usually means in / with / by, but here is part of the verb pattern.

So Hebrew says:

• להשתמש ב... = to use ...

Examples:

• להשתמש בטלפון = to use the phone
• להשתמש במפתח = to use a key
• להשתמש בכניסה השנייה = to use the second entrance

This is just something you learn with the verb:
להשתמש does not usually take a direct object with את.

Because in Hebrew, adjectives normally come after the noun.

So:

• הכניסה השנייה = the second entrance

not:

• השנייה הכניסה

Hebrew word order here is:

• noun + adjective

Examples:

• הדלת הגדולה = the big door
• הספר החדש = the new book
• הכניסה השנייה = the second entrance

Also, the adjective must agree with the noun:

• כניסה is feminine singular
• so the adjective is שנייה (feminine singular)

And because the phrase is definite (the second entrance), both words get ה־:

• הכניסה
• השנייה

Here it means second.

So:

• הכניסה השנייה = the second entrance

If Hebrew wanted to say another entrance or a different entrance, it would more likely use:

• כניסה אחרת = another / different entrance
• הכניסה האחרת = the other entrance

So שנייה is about order or numbering, while אחרת is about being different or additional.