Hay que cruzar esta calle hacia el semáforo.

Questions & Answers about Hay que cruzar esta calle hacia el semáforo.

Why do we use hacia here instead of hasta?
The word hacia focuses on the direction of movement, meaning you cross the street towards the traffic light. If the sentence used hasta (until / as far as), it would mean the traffic light is the exact limit or final stopping point of your crossing.
Why does the sentence use Hay que instead of Tienes que to say 'You have to'?
Hay que is an impersonal phrase used for general rules or instructions that apply to anyone, meaning 'one must' or 'it is necessary to'. If you were giving directions to a specific person, you could definitely use Tienes que, but Hay que is very common and natural for general street directions.
Why is it esta calle instead of este calle?
The word calle (street) is feminine, even though it ends in the letter -e. Because it is a feminine noun, it must be paired with the feminine word for 'this', which is esta.
What is the literal translation of Hay que cruzar?
It translates literally to 'There is that to cross'. The word Hay means 'there is' or 'there are'. When you add que plus an infinitive verb like cruzar (to cross), it creates this useful structure to talk about things that need to be done.

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