This week we're going to look at a word with more than one meaning. It's spelled "hay," pronounced "i," and means "there is" or "there are." "Hay" isn't like an adjective - it doesn't change to match anything in gender or number. Take a look:
Hay un libro = There is a book.
Hay unos libros = There are some books.
Hay una manzana = There is an apple
Hay unas manzanas = There are some apples.
No matter what the object or objects, the word "hay" does not change.
"Hay" can also be used in questions when it means "is there" or "are there." Make sure to put an inverted, or upside-down question mark before the question and a regular one after!
(inverted ?) Hay un libro? = Is there a book?
(inverted ?) Hay unos libros? = Are there some books?
You get the idea. Now let's get creative with what we know. Here are some new things we can say using "hay."
We can tell people when something is there . . .
Hay un chico en Ecuador.
There is a boy in Ecuador
We can tell people when something isn't there . . .
No hay una silla (pronounced: see-jah) en la casa.
There isn't a chair in the house.
We can tell people when many things are there . . .
Hay muchas plumas en la clase.
There are many pens in the classroom.
We can tell people when there aren't many things there . . .
No hay muchos carteles en mi cuarto.
There aren't many posters in my room.
Oh no! My lesson got scrambled up. Can you match up each Spanish sentence with its English translation?
SPANISH
(A) No hay comida en la cocina.
(B) Hay muchas ventanas en la escuela.
(C) No hay un taco en el restaurante.
(D) Hay una chica a la fiesta.
ENGLISH
(1) There is a girl at the party.
(2) There are many windows in the school.
(3) There is no food in the kitchen.
(4) There isn't a taco in the restaurant.
Well, I've got to run. Hay cosas importantes that I need to do!
-Wicked777
