There is/There Are - Using the Verb Haber

To state that there is something, or that there are some things, you are going to use the present tense manifestation of the verb haber. Haber is unusual in that, when used in a simple, indicative sense, it is only found in the third person singular, namely the conjugation "hay". Even if the noun is plural, you would still only make singular the verb. Notice the following sentence:

Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca. There are a lot of books in the library.

This conjugation matches a plural noun, but the same verb is used for singular noun quantities. Check this example out:

Hay una recámara disponible. There is a room available.

In addition, used in the past tense the verb haber is only found in its singular, third person form, despite the noun being plural or singular.

Había muchos habitantes que vivían allá. There were a lot of people that used to live there.

Hubo un terremoto poderoso en Ciudad de México en 1985. There was a powerful earthquake in Mexico City in 1985.

There is one other way to use the verb "hay". The formula hay que + infinitive verb means "should" or "have to" in a general sense.

Hay que cepillarse los dientes regularmente. You should brush your teeth regularly.

Para tener éxito en la escuela, hay que estudiar mucho. To be successful in school, you have to study a lot.

Sigue estudiando,

Professor Joel