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📐 Grammar corner · 🌱 A1 · Beginner · Topic 5 of 20

hay: there is, there are

One small word, hay, means both 'there is' and 'there are'.

hay never changes: Hay un banco. Hay dos bancos.

  • Use hay with un / una, numbers, mucho / poco or no article: Hay leche. Hay muchos turistas.
  • Use estar with el / la or names, to say where a known thing is: El banco está en la plaza.

Questions: ¿Hay un supermercado por aquí? In the past: había (there was / there were) and hubo (there was, one event).

meaningSpanishexample
there is / there arehayHay un parque.
is there? / are there?¿hay…?¿Hay wifi?
there isn't / aren'tno hayNo hay pan.
there was / werehabíaHabía mucha gente.
there will behabráHabrá una fiesta.

Examples

  • Hay un bar en la esquina.There's a bar on the corner.
  • ¿Hay una farmacia por aquí?Is there a pharmacy around here?
  • No hay problema.No problem.
  • Hay muchos turistas en agosto.There are lots of tourists in August.
  • El bar está en la esquina.The bar is on the corner.

✅ Exercises

9 exercises: choose the right answer or type the missing word. Score 70% to complete the topic.