Bájese (usted) en la próxima estación.
Get off at the next station.
Sube por esta calle. (fam.)
Go up along this street.
Cruza aquel puente. (fam.)
Cross that bridge.69.1.3 Tener que+ infinitive,hay que+ infinitive
Spoken directions may sometimes include sentences with tener que, ‘to have to’, or the
impersonal form hay que, both followed by the infinitive. 21.5 (p. 102); 21.6 (p. 102)
Tiene que subir por esa escalera mecánica.
You have to go up that escalator.
Tienes que cambiar de andén.
You have to change platforms.
Hay que cambiar de trenes en Calatayud.
You have to change trains in Calatayud.69.1.4 The infinitive
The infinitive is used mainly in formal, impersonal written language, with the same
value as the imperative form.
Seguir por la M1 hasta llegar a San Alfonso. En San Alfonso, buscar
la calle Mayor y continuar por esa calle hasta la plaza de Santa
Julia. Doblar allí a la izquierda y seguir todo recto hasta Santa
Eulalia.
Go along the M1 until you get to San Alfonso. In San Alfonso look for
calle Mayor and continue along that street as far as Santa Julia square.
Turn left there and go straight on as far as Santa Eulalia.17.11 (p. 79)
69.1.5 Latin American usage
Directions in Latin America are given in much the same way as above, except that the
actual phrases used may differ from country to country. Instead of siga todo recto,
‘go straight on’, you may hear siga (todo) derecho in some countries. Instead of tuerza
a la derecha/izquierda, ‘turn right/left’, you may hear doble a la derecha/izquierda;
instead of coja este tren/esta calle, ‘take this train/this road’, you will hear tome este
tren/esta calle. Coger is a taboo word in some Latin American countries, for example
Argentina and Mexico (see 65 ), so if you are addressing Spanish American speakers it
is better to avoid it.GIVING DIRECTIONS, INSTRUCTIONS AND ORDERS 69.1