Hay, there is and there are
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
Ven a desayunar: en la mesa pan, fruta y café.
Come have breakfast: there’s bread, fruit, and coffee on the table.
The rule
" Spanish uses the same word for one thing or many. You also learn the difference between hay (something exists) and está/están (where a known thing is). Mixing these up is one of the most common mistakes at this stage.
The pattern
Use hay to say something exists. It usually pairs with un, una, unos, unas, a number, or no article at all.
Hay un café aquí. = There is a café here.
Hay dos cafés aquí. = There are two cafés here.
Use está or están to locate something already identified. Hay answers "does it exist?" Está/están answers "where is it?"
Hay un banco en la esquina. (Introduces the bank.)
El banco está en la esquina. (Locates the known bank.)
Hay que + infinitive expresses impersonal obligation: "one must" or "you have to." Hay que estudiar means studying is necessary, without naming who.
In the past, había means "there was/were" for background or general situations. Hubo means "there was/were" for a specific, completed event. In the future, habrá means "there will be."
Examples
- Hay un problema.There is a problem.
- Hay muchas personas aquí.There are many people here.
- ¿Hay un banco por aquí?Is there a bank around here?
- ¿Dónde está el banco?Where is the bank?
- Hay que estudiar más.You have to study more.
- Antes había mucha gente aquí.There used to be many people here.
- Ayer hubo un accidente.There was an accident yesterday.
- Mañana habrá una reunión.There will be a meeting tomorrow.
Watch out
- Han muchas personas aquí. Hay muchas personas aquí.Hay never changes to match a plural noun.
- Hay el problema. Hay un problema.Hay introduces something new, so use an indefinite article, a number, or no article.
- ¿Dónde hay el banco? ¿Dónde está el banco?Use está when the bank is already known and you are asking for its location.
- Hay que estudia más. Hay que estudiar más.After hay que, use the infinitive.