Download HAY There is, there are…

HAY
There is, there are…
Introduction
 The verb “HAY” is one of three verbs that
can signify “to be” in Spanish.
 True definition: there is, there are
 HAY is an irregular form of HABER and is
used in special conditions.
 “HAY” is pronounced “I” or “eye”
A main use of HABER
In the special 3rd person form to
signal the existence of one of
more nouns:
 Hay un libro en la mesa.
 There is a book on the table.
 Hay unos estudiantes en la
clase.
 There are students in the classroom.
HAY and Indefinite Articles
 HAY can be used with or without indefinite articles.
 For this class I would like you to always aim to use the
indefinite article.
 Hay un libro en la mesa.
 Hay libro en la mesa.

Both mean: “There is a book on the table.”
 Hay unos estudiantes en la clase.
 Hay estudiantes en la clase.

Both mean: “There are students in the classroom.”
Questions
 As we saw in the previous slide, you can
use “hay” to state a fact.
 You can also use “hay” to ask a
question.
 If you simply change the intonation
while speaking, and add
interrogative marks while writing,
you can turn a statement with “hay”
into a question.
Questions, examples
 Hay un libro en la mesa.

There is a book on the table.
 ¿Hay un libro en la mesa?
 *Is there a book on the table?
 Hay estudiantes en la clase.
 There are students in the classroom
 ¿Hay estudiantes en la clase?
 *Are there students in the classroom?
 *Notice how the translation inverts the syntax in
English, but not in Spanish?
Questions/Answers
 ¿Hay un libro en la mesa?
 *Is there a book on the table?
 A: Sí, hay un libro en la mesa.
 A: No, no hay un libro en la mesa.
 A: No, hay un lápiz en la mesa.
 Notice how the answer in purple gives different
information? If you use the single negative
different information is required.
¿Cuántos? + HAY
 You can combine the question word
¿Cuántos? with the verb HAY to ask for
an amount:
 ¿Cuántos+ plural masculine noun +hay?
 ¿Cuántos libros hay?
 ¿Cuántas+ plural feminine noun +hay?
 ¿Cuántas palabras hay?
¿Cuántos? + HAY
 ¿Cuántos+ plural masculine noun +hay?
 ¿Cuántos libros hay?
 Hay + number + nouns.
 Hay cinco libros.
 ¿Cuántas+ plural feminine noun +hay?
 ¿Cuántas palabras hay?
 Hay quince palabras.