HAY
There is, there are…
Introduction
o  The verb “HAY” is one of three verbs that
can signify “to be” in Spanish.
n  True definition: there is, there are
o  HAY is an irregular form of HABER and is
used in special conditions.
o  “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:
n  Hay un libro en la mesa.
o  There is a book on the table.
n  Hay unos estudiantes en la
clase.
o  There are students in the classroom.
HAY and Indefinite Articles
o  HAY can be used with or without indefinite articles.
o  For this class I would like you to always aim to use the
indefinite article.
n  Hay un libro en la mesa.
n  Hay libro en la mesa.
o  Both mean: “There is a book on the table.”
n  Hay unos estudiantes en la clase.
n  Hay estudiantes en la clase.
o  Both mean: “There are students in the classroom.”
Questions
o  As we saw in the previous slide, you can
use “hay” to state a fact.
o  You can also use “hay” to ask a
question.
o  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
n  Hay un libro en la mesa.
(statement)
o  There is a book on the table.
n  ¿Hay un libro en la mesa?
(question)
o  *Is there a book on the table?
n  Hay estudiantes en la clase.
o  There are students in the classroom
n  ¿Hay estudiantes en la clase?
o  *Are there students in the classroom?
o  *Notice how the translation inverts the syntax in
English, but not in Spanish?
Questions/Answers
o  ¿Hay un libro en la mesa?
n  *Is there a book on the table?
o  A: Sí, hay un libro en la mesa.
o  A: No, no hay un libro en la mesa.
o  A: No, hay un lápiz en la mesa.
n  Notice how the answer in purple gives different
information? If you use the single negative
different information is required.
¿Qué? + HAY
o  Sometimes you may be seeking a
definition or an explanation.
o  Use can use the question word
“¿Qué?” to explain or define.
o  Grammar
o  Q: ¿Qué hay + en + location?
o  A: Hay + indef. art. + noun + en + location.
o  Example:
o  Q: ¿Qué hay en la clase?
o  A: Hay unos estudiantes en la clase.
¿Cuántos? + HAY
o  In your book on page 16:
o  You can combine the question word
¿Cuántos? with the verb HAY to ask for
an amount:
n  ¿Cuántos+ plural masculine noun +hay?
o  ¿Cuántos libros hay?
n  ¿Cuántas+ plural feminine noun +hay?
o  ¿Cuántas palabras hay?
¿Cuántos? + HAY
n  ¿Cuántos+ plural masculine noun +hay?
o  ¿Cuántos libros hay?
o  Hay + number + nouns.
o  Hay cinco libros.
n  ¿Cuántas+ plural feminine noun +hay?
o  ¿Cuántas palabras hay?
o  Hay quince palabras.