Haber: there is / there was / there will be
Hay means both "there is" and "there are"; in the past it's había or hubo, in the future habrá.
Taught in: A1.2 Week 1: My Home
The rule at a glance
hay = there is / there are
One form for singular and plural; Past había, hubo · future habrá
Hay: something exists
hay + un/una/number
there is / there are
Hay un banco en la esquina.
There's a bank on the corner.
Estar: where it is
el/la + noun + está/están
the ... is / are
El banco está en la esquina.
The bank is on the corner.
Past: había
había
there was / there were
Había mucha gente en la fiesta.
There were lots of people at the party.
Hay que + infinitive
hay que reservar
you have to book (in general)
Hay que reservar con antelación.
You need to book in advance.
Forms
The verb haber has a special impersonal use: it says that something exists. Unlike most verbs, impersonal haber never changes for singular or plural: hay un libro (there is a book), hay tres libros (there are three books). This is different from the auxiliary haber of the perfect tenses (he comido, has hablado). The two past forms match the preterite and imperfect distinction.
| Form | Tense | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| hay | Present | there is / there are | Hay tres libros. |
| había | Imperfect | there was / there were: description, ongoing, background | Había mucha gente en la fiesta. |
| hubo | Preterite | there was / there were: a completed event, a specific occurrence | Hubo un accidente ayer. |
| habrá | Future | there will be (prediction, certainty) | Mañana habrá una reunión. |
| habría | Conditional | there would be (hypothetical) | Habría más turistas si hiciera sol. |
When to use it
1. Hay: there is, there are
One form for singular and plural, for uncountable nouns and in the negative. Use un/una/unos/unas, numbers or quantities with hay, never el/la/los/las.
Singular: Hay un gato en el jardín. There is a cat in the garden.
Plural: same form: Hay muchos gatos en el jardín. There are many cats in the garden.
Uncountable: Hay agua en la mesa. There is water on the table.
Negative: No hay leche. There is no milk.
2. Questions: is there, are there
The word order stays the same: just add question marks.
¿Hay una farmacia cerca? Is there a pharmacy nearby?
¿Hay leche en la nevera? Is there milk in the fridge?
¿Hay habitaciones libres? Are there free rooms?
3. Hay vs estar: existence or location
Hay introduces something new (it exists); estar locates something already known. Quick test: is it "a/some [noun]"? Use hay. Is it "the [noun]" (or mi, tu...)? Use estar.
Hay: existence: Hay un banco en la esquina. There is a bank on the corner.
Estar: location: El banco está en la esquina. The bank is on the corner.
Hay: existence: Hay una farmacia cerca. There is a pharmacy nearby.
Estar: location: La farmacia está cerca. The pharmacy is nearby.
4. Había: describing the past
The imperfect form, for descriptions, background and things that used to exist.
Había flores en el jardín. There were flowers in the garden.
No había nadie en casa. There was nobody at home.
Antes había un cine aquí. There used to be a cinema here.
5. Hubo: something happened
The preterite form, for a completed, specific event.
Hubo un terremoto en 2010. There was an earthquake in 2010.
Hubo una explosión. There was an explosion.
Hubo problemas con el vuelo. There were problems with the flight.
6. Habrá and habría: there will be, there would be
Prediction: Habrá mucho tráfico esta tarde. There will be a lot of traffic this afternoon.
Prediction: No habrá clases mañana. There won't be classes tomorrow.
Hypothetical: Habría menos problemas con más dinero. There would be fewer problems with more money.
Hypothetical: Sin ti, no habría fiesta. Without you, there would be no party.
7. Hay que + infinitive: what has to be done
Hay que is impersonal ("one must", with no subject); tener que is personal ("I/you/he must"), conjugated for a specific person.
Hay que: general: Hay que estudiar para el examen. One must study for the exam.
Tener que: personal: Tengo que estudiar para el examen. I have to study for the exam.
Hay que: general: Hay que ser paciente. You have to be patient (in general).
Tener que: personal: Tienes que ser paciente. You have to be patient (directed at you).
For more on estar for location, see ser vs estar; for obligation, deber vs tener que vs hay que.
Common mistakes
Not this (incorrect): Habían muchas personas
But this (correct): Había muchas personas. Impersonal haber never changes for plural: always había, never habían.
Not this (incorrect): Hay el libro en la mesa
But this (correct): Hay un libro en la mesa / El libro está en la mesa. Hay uses indefinite articles (un/una). For definite articles (el/la), use estar.
Not this (incorrect): Está un banco cerca
But this (correct): Hay un banco cerca. To introduce something new (existence), use hay. Estar locates something already known.
Not this (incorrect): Había un accidente ayer (for a sudden event)
But this (correct): Hubo un accidente ayer. For completed, specific events use hubo (preterite). Había is for descriptions and ongoing situations.
Quick check
8 questions1. Complete: '___ muchos estudiantes en la clase.'
Hay = there are. We're expressing existence: 'There are many students in the class.'
2. Choose the correct past form: '___ un terremoto en Chile en 2010.'
Hubo: a specific, completed event (earthquake). Había would be for descriptions/background.
3. Which is correct? 'En la nevera...'
Hay + indefinite/uncountable: 'hay leche' (there is milk). Never hay + el/la.
4. Fill in: 'Antes ___ un cine aquí, pero ahora es un supermercado.'
Había: describing something that used to exist (background/ongoing past state).
5. Translate: 'There will be a party on Saturday.'
Habrá = there will be (future). We're predicting a future event.
6. Which expresses impersonal obligation?
Hay que + infinitive = impersonal obligation (one must study). Don't forget 'que'!
7. '___ muchas personas en la fiesta anoche.' (describing the scene)
Había: describing the scene (background). And never 'habían': haber doesn't change for plural!
8. Which sentence is wrong?
'Hay el café...' is always wrong: hay never takes el/la. 'El café está...' locates a known café; 'Hay un café...' and 'Hay dos cafés...' introduce their existence.
Test your understanding of hay, había, hubo, habrá and the hay vs estar distinction.
Going further
More examples: home, city, past, future, obligation
Home and location
Hay dos dormitorios en mi casa. There are two bedrooms in my house.
No hay ascensor en el edificio. There is no lift in the building.
Hay un parque cerca de aquí. There is a park near here.
City and places
Hay muchos restaurantes en Madrid. There are many restaurants in Madrid.
¿Hay un supermercado por aquí? Is there a supermarket around here?
Hay demasiado tráfico hoy. There is too much traffic today.
¿Hay un banco cerca? Is there a bank nearby?
¿Hay wifi aquí? Is there wifi here?
Past events
Había mucha gente en el concierto. There were a lot of people at the concert.
Hubo un incendio en el centro. There was a fire in the centre.
Antes había un río aquí. There used to be a river here.
Future plans
Habrá una fiesta el sábado. There will be a party on Saturday.
No habrá examen esta semana. There won't be an exam this week.
Habrá más oportunidades. There will be more opportunities.
Obligation
Hay que trabajar duro. You have to work hard (general).
Hay que respetar las reglas. One must respect the rules.
Hay que tener cuidado. You have to be careful.
Tiene que reservar con antelación. He/She needs to book in advance.
Hay vs estar contrasts
Hay una tienda en la calle. There is a shop on the street (existence).
La tienda está en la calle Mayor. The shop is on Main Street (location).