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 (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | — |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hay/ha |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | — |
| 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: Indicates the existence of something, for example, Hay un gato en el jardín. (There is a cat in the garden.)
Auxiliary verb: Used to form perfect tenses with a past participle, for example, He comido una manzana. (I have eaten an apple.)
Impersonal expression: Used to express impersonal statements, for example, Hay que estudiar para el examen. (One has to study for the exam.)
Idiomatic expressions: Used in various idiomatic expressions, for example, No hay de qué. (You’re welcome, literally “there is no what”.)
Colloquial usage: In some colloquial contexts, it can be used to express surprise or disbelief, for example, ¡Hay que ver lo que hiciste! (You have to see what you did!)
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 suficiente comida para todos? (Is there enough food for everyone?)
En la oficina hay un ambiente de estrés por el próximo plazo. (There is a stressful atmosphere in the office due to the upcoming deadline.)
Siempre hay tráfico pesado durante la hora pico. (There is always heavy traffic during rush hour.)
En este restaurante hay platos deliciosos de la cocina local. (This restaurant has delicious local cuisine dishes.)
No hay duda de que el equipo jugó muy bien. (There is no doubt that the team played very well.)
En la ciudad hay muchas oportunidades culturales. (There are many cultural opportunities in the city.)
Según las noticias, hay una nueva cepa de virus circulando. (According to the news, there is a new strain of virus circulating.)
Para tener éxito, hay que trabajar duro y ser persistente. (To be successful, you have to work hard and be persistent.)
En la familia hay diferentes tradiciones que seguimos. (In the family, there are different traditions that we follow.)
Oye, ¿hay algo bueno en Netflix para ver esta noche? (Hey, is there anything good on Netflix to watch tonight?)
Dicen que hay un nuevo restaurante vegano que está de moda. (They say there is a new trendy vegan restaurant.)
En el parque hay un ambiente relajado y familiar. (There is a relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere in the park.)
Siempre hay algo nuevo que aprender sobre uno mismo. (There is always something new to learn about oneself.)
En esta empresa hay oportunidades de crecimiento profesional. (There are opportunities for professional growth in this company.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Haber (there is/there are (auxiliary)) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo — | — |
| Tú — | — |
| Él / Ella / Usted hay/ha | There is / There are |
| Nosotros / Nosotras — | — |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes — | — |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian 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.