The Present Tense of haber is used to express existence or possession in the present moment. For example, Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca. (There are many books in the library.)
Haber is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugations do not follow a set pattern across all subjects.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Haber (there is/there are (auxiliary)) in the Present Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | — |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hay/ha |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | — |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | — |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | — |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Haber (there is/there are (auxiliary)) in the Present Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Haber in the Present Tense
Haber generally means “to have”, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.
Existential meaning: Haber is used impersonally to indicate the existence of something, for example, Hay muchas personas en la fiesta. (There are many people at the party.)
Auxiliary verb: Haber is used as an auxiliary verb to form compound tenses with past participles, for example, He comido mucho. (I have eaten a lot.)
Obligation or necessity: Haber can express obligation or necessity, often with the infinitive form of another verb, for example, Hay que estudiar para el examen. (One has to study for the exam.)
Time expression: Haber is used to indicate the passage of time, for example, Hace dos horas que estoy esperando. (I have been waiting for two hours.)
Idiomatic expressions: Haber is used in various idiomatic expressions, for example, ¡Hay que ver! (You don’t say!) or ¡Hay que tener cuidado! (One must be careful!)
Slang usage: In some colloquial contexts, haber can be used in a rude or vulgar way, for example, ¡Hay que ver lo tonto que eres! (You’re so stupid!)
Examples
Examples of Haber in the Present Tense
En la fiesta hay mucha gente bailando. (There are a lot of people dancing at the party.)
¿Hay algún restaurante vegano cerca? (Is there a vegan restaurant nearby?)
En la oficina hay mucho trabajo por hacer. (There is a lot of work to do at the office.)
No hay problema, puedo recoger a los niños de la escuela. (No problem, I can pick up the kids from school.)
En este momento, hay un gran tráfico en la autopista. (There is a lot of traffic on the highway right now.)
Siempre hay algo nuevo que aprender. (There is always something new to learn.)
En la playa hay mucha gente tomando el sol. (There are a lot of people sunbathing at the beach.)
En la ciudad hay muchos museos interesantes para visitar. (There are many interesting museums to visit in the city.)
En la reunión hay varios temas importantes que discutir. (There are several important topics to discuss at the meeting.)
En este momento no hay suficientes recursos para todos. (There are not enough resources for everyone right now.)
En la tienda hay una gran variedad de productos. (There is a wide variety of products in the store.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Haber (there is/there are (auxiliary)) in the Present Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo — | — |
| Tú — | — |
| Él / Ella / Usted hay/ha | There is / There are |
| Nosotros / Nosotras — | — |
| Vosotros / Vosotras — | — |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — | — |
This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.