Saying 'There Is/Are' (Há)
Há to say something exists or to express time passed, regardless of plural or singular.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'há' to express existence, meaning 'there is' or 'there are', regardless of whether the following noun is singular or plural.
- Use 'há' for both singular and plural: 'Há um livro' (There is a book), 'Há dois livros' (There are two books).
- Never change 'há' to match the noun; it is invariant.
- In informal Brazilian Portuguese, 'tem' is often used instead of 'há'.
Overview
In Portuguese, the concept of 'there is' or 'there are' is primarily conveyed through a single, unchanging verb form: há. This form derives from the impersonal verb haver, which functions uniquely to express existence or the passage of time without a grammatical subject. Unlike English, where you must differentiate between 'is' for singular and 'are' for plural, há remains constant, simplifying its application significantly for learners at the A1 level.
Understanding há is fundamental for describing what exists in a place or indicating how long ago an event occurred.
This impersonal nature means há does not agree in number with the noun it refers to. Whether you are speaking of one item or many, the verb form remains fixed. This characteristic makes há an efficient tool for beginners, as it removes the need for subject-verb agreement often found in other languages.
Mastery of há establishes a core foundation for more complex existential constructions and temporal expressions in Portuguese.
Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Haver (Present Indicative) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| :---------------- | :--------------------------- | ||
Eu (I) |
hei |
||
Tu (You, informal singular) |
hás |
||
Ele/Ela/Você (He/She/You, formal singular) |
há |
||
Nós (We) |
havemos |
||
Vós (You, informal plural) |
haveis |
||
Eles/Elas/Vocês (They/You, formal plural) |
hão |
How This Grammar Works
há functions on the principle of impersonality. When haver is used to mean 'there is' or 'there are,' it acts as an impersonal verb. This means it has no grammatical subject that performs the action or state described.há is impersonal, it always remains in its third-person singular form, há, even if the object it refers to is plural. For example, in the sentence Há um livro na mesa (There is a book on the table), um livro is the object, not the subject. Similarly, in Há muitos livros na mesa (There are many books on the table), muitos livros is still the object, and há does not change to hão to agree with a plural item.há simply declares the existence of the object.h in há is always silent, meaning it is pronounced identically to the preposition a.há as a universal, static declaration of 'X exists' or 'X is present,' regardless of X's quantity.Formation Pattern
há is remarkably simple and consistent, making it highly accessible for A1 learners. The core rule is to use the invariable form há at the beginning of your statement, followed by the noun or noun phrase that denotes what exists.
Há + Noun/Noun Phrase (singular or plural)
há itself does not inflect for number, person, or gender when used in this existential context. The noun or noun phrase that follows will dictate whether the idea conveyed is singular or plural, but the verb form itself remains constant. This consistency is a key feature of há.
Há um restaurante novo no centro. (There is a new restaurant downtown.)
um restaurante novo is singular, but há remains the same as it would for a plural.
Há muitas opções de transporte público. (There are many public transportation options.)
muitas opções de transporte público is plural, yet há does not change.
Há silêncio na biblioteca. (There is silence in the library.)
silêncio, the pattern holds, further underscoring the static nature of há.
Há algum problema? (Is there any problem?)
Há lugares disponíveis? (Are there available seats?)
When To Use It
há in its impersonal form is primarily used in two significant contexts: to express the existence or presence of something, and to indicate the passage of time. Mastering these two applications is crucial for A1 learners.há. You use it to state that something is present or exists in a particular place or situation. It is often used to introduce new information into a conversation or description.Há um café excelente na esquina.(There's an excellent coffee shop on the corner.)- This sentence informs the listener about the existence of a specific coffee shop.
Há muitos turistas nesta época do ano.(There are many tourists at this time of year.)- Here,
hádescribes the presence of multiple individuals without changing its form. Há sempre uma solução para cada problema.(There's always a solution for every problem.)- This exemplifies
háexpressing the general existence of solutions.
há is equivalent to the English 'ago' or 'for' when referring to a duration up to the present moment. It specifies how much time has passed since an event or how long a state has been ongoing.O meu avô faleceu há dez anos.(My grandfather passed away ten years ago.)há dez anosclearly marks the duration since the event.Estudo português há seis meses.(I've been studying Portuguese for six months.)- This construction implies an action that began in the past and continues into the present.
Não o vejo há muito tempo.(I haven't seen him for a long time.)- This indicates a period during which an action (or lack thereof) has been occurring.
há is the standard and most common way to express 'there is/are' in both spoken and written contexts. In Brazilian Portuguese, há is considered the grammatically correct and formal option, primarily used in written communication, academic discourse, and news reporting. While it is understood in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, a more colloquial alternative often takes its place (see 'Contrast With Similar Patterns').há ensures grammatical correctness and formality in all Portuguese-speaking regions.When Not To Use It
há is as crucial as knowing when to employ it. Misapplying há can lead to grammatical errors or unnatural-sounding sentences. Avoid há in the following scenarios:há is incorrect. In such cases, you should use forms of ser (to be – permanent characteristics/identity) or estar (to be – temporary states/location).- Incorrect:
Há o meu livro na mesa.(There is my book on the table.) - Correct:
O meu livro está na mesa.(My book is on the table.) O meu livrois a specific subject, henceestaris used for location.
- Incorrect:
Há o João meu amigo.(There is João my friend.) - Correct:
O João é meu amigo.(João is my friend.) O Joãois a specific person, andserdefines his relationship.
Há is strictly a present tense form. It cannot be used to express 'there was/were' or 'there will be'. For these temporal distinctions, other forms of haver are required.- For 'there was/were': Use
havia(imperfect) orhouve(preterite). - Incorrect:
Há muitos carros ontem na estrada. - Correct:
Havia muitos carros ontem na estrada.(There were many cars on the road yesterday – continuous past.) - Correct:
Houve um acidente grave na autoestrada.(There was a serious accident on the highway – single past event.) - For 'there will be': Use
haverá(future simple). - Incorrect:
Há uma festa amanhã. - Correct:
Haverá uma festa amanhã.(There will be a party tomorrow.)
haver is an ancient verb meaning 'to have' in some historical contexts, in modern Portuguese, ter is the verb exclusively used for possession. Do not confuse há with the act of possessing something.- Incorrect:
Eu há um carro.(I there-is a car.) - Correct:
Eu tenho um carro.(I have a car.) Tenhois the first-person singular ofter(to have).
há precisely and correctly.Common Mistakes
há. Understanding these common pitfalls and their underlying reasons can significantly accelerate mastery.há: This is by far the most frequent mistake. Learners often attempt to make há plural (e.g., hão or haviam) when referring to multiple items, mirroring English 'there are'.- Incorrect:
Hão muitas pessoas na sala.(Attempting to pluralizehá) - Correct:
Há muitas pessoas na sala.(There are many people in the room.) - Why it's wrong: As an impersonal verb,
háhas no grammatical subject to agree with. It always remains in its third-person singular form, regardless of the number of objects it refers to. The number of the noun followinghádoes not affect the verb itself.
há with a (preposition): Both sound identical because the h in há is silent. This phonetic homophony leads to confusion in writing.a(preposition/article): Means 'to', 'at', 'in', 'within', or acts as a feminine definite article. It does not express existence or time elapsed.Vou a Lisboa.(I'm going to Lisbon.)Chegou a casa.(He arrived home.)há(verb fromhaver): Means 'there is/are' or 'ago/for (time duration)'.Há um livro na mesa.(There is a book on the table.)Conheci-o há três anos.(I met him three years ago.)- Memory Trick: If you can replace the word with 'exists' or 'ago', then it must be
há(with theh). If not, it's likelya.
h in há, sounding like 'ha' (as in 'hat').- Incorrect pronunciation:
/ha/(like English 'ha') - Correct pronunciation:
/a/(like the 'a' in 'father', a pure open vowel sound). - Why it's important: Mispronouncing the
hcan sound unnatural and betray a non-native speaker, though usually understandable. The silenthis a characteristic of Portuguese phonology for most words originating from Latinh-.
há for every existential statement in casual Brazilian Portuguese spoken contexts can sound overly formal or even pedantic, as ter is overwhelmingly preferred.- Correct but potentially formal (BP speech):
Há um problema. - More natural (BP speech):
Tem um problema.(See 'Contrast With Similar Patterns' for detailed explanation.) - Recommendation: Be aware of this nuance. Use
háin writing and formal speech in Brazil, and frequently in all contexts in Portugal. Understand the prevalence oftemin casual spoken BP.
há to sound more natural and accurate in Portuguese.Memory Trick
Memorizing the specific and somewhat counter-intuitive rules of há can be facilitated by a few mental associations. The goal of a memory trick is to provide a quick, intuitive reminder of the core principles: impersonality and its dual functions.
1. The 'Invisible Announcer' or 'Impersonal Declaration':
Imagine há as an invisible announcer making a declaration. This announcer doesn't care about the details of what is being announced, only that it exists. The announcer's voice doesn't change whether it's one item or a hundred. It's always a simple, singular declaration:
The Invariant 'Há'
| Form | Portuguese | English |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Há
|
There is / There are
|
|
Negative
|
Não há
|
There is not / There are not
|
|
Interrogative
|
Há?
|
Is there? / Are there?
|
|
Negative Interrogative
|
Não há?
|
Isn't there? / Aren't there?
|
Meanings
The verb 'haver' in the third-person singular present is used to indicate the existence of something or someone.
Existence
To state that something exists in a specific place or time.
“Há um gato no jardim.”
“Há problemas aqui.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Há + Noun
|
Há um livro.
|
|
Negative
|
Não + há + Noun
|
Não há livros.
|
|
Question
|
Há + Noun + ?
|
Há livros aqui?
|
|
Time
|
Há + Time
|
Há dois dias.
|
|
Plural
|
Há + Plural Noun
|
Há muitos carros.
|
|
Formal
|
Há
|
Há uma reunião.
|
Formality Spectrum
Há uma reunião hoje. (Workplace)
Há uma reunião hoje. (Workplace)
Tem uma reunião hoje. (Workplace)
Tem reunião hoje, cara. (Workplace)
The 'Há' Concept Map
Usage
- Existence Presence
- Time Duration
Agreement
- Singular Always
- Plural Always
Haver vs. Ter
Do I use 'Há'?
Is it about existence?
Examples by Level
Há um carro aqui.
There is a car here.
Há muitas pessoas.
There are many people.
Não há leite.
There is no milk.
Há um problema?
Is there a problem?
Há dois gatos no sofá.
There are two cats on the sofa.
Há uma farmácia perto?
Is there a pharmacy nearby?
Não há nada para comer.
There is nothing to eat.
Há muitas lojas nesta rua.
There are many shops on this street.
Há anos que não o vejo.
It has been years since I saw him.
Há uma grande diferença entre eles.
There is a big difference between them.
Não há motivos para preocupação.
There is no reason for concern.
Há quem diga o contrário.
There are those who say the opposite.
Há de se considerar as consequências.
One must consider the consequences.
Há uma vasta gama de opções.
There is a wide range of options.
Não há como negar a evidência.
There is no way to deny the evidence.
Há de haver uma solução.
There must be a solution.
Há que se tomar medidas urgentes.
It is necessary to take urgent measures.
Não há senão aceitar o destino.
There is nothing to do but accept fate.
Há muito que a cidade mudou.
The city has changed a long time ago.
Há de ser verdade, suponho.
It must be true, I suppose.
Há de se ter paciência com o processo.
One must have patience with the process.
Não há quem não saiba a verdade.
There is no one who doesn't know the truth.
Há de se convir que a situação é complexa.
One must agree that the situation is complex.
Há de se notar a sutileza do autor.
One must note the author's subtlety.
Easily Confused
Learners often use 'ter' for existence in European Portuguese, which is incorrect.
Learners confuse the verb 'há' with the preposition 'a'.
Learners use 'ser' to express existence.
Common Mistakes
Hão muitos livros.
Há muitos livros.
É muitos livros.
Há muitos livros.
Tem muitos livros.
Há muitos livros.
A muitos livros.
Há muitos livros.
Hão de ser problemas.
Há de ser problemas.
Não hão livros.
Não há livros.
Tem que há livros.
Há livros.
Haveram muitos problemas.
Houve muitos problemas.
Há que existem soluções.
Há soluções.
Há de haverem soluções.
Há de haver soluções.
Haveriam de ser muitos.
Haveria de ser muitos.
Não há de se verem.
Não há de se ver.
Hão de se considerar.
Há de se considerar.
Sentence Patterns
Há ___ aqui.
Não há ___ na geladeira.
Há ___ que não viajo.
Há de se ___ para vencer.
Real World Usage
Há um ônibus para o aeroporto?
Tem festa hoje?
Há uma vaga disponível?
Há opções vegetarianas?
Há relatos de chuva.
Há evidências de que...
Keep it simple
Don't use 'ser'
Regional variation
Formal vs Informal
Smart Tips
Stop yourself from saying 'are'. Just say 'há'.
Always use 'há' instead of 'tem'.
Use 'há' to say how long ago something happened.
If you are describing existence, 'há' is your safest bet.
Pronunciation
The 'H'
The 'h' in Portuguese is always silent.
The accent
The circumflex accent on 'â' indicates a closed vowel sound.
Statement
Há um livro. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Question
Há um livro? ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
H-A: 'H' stands for 'Here' and 'A' stands for 'Always'. It's always here!
Visual Association
Imagine a magical box. No matter how many items you put inside—one apple or ten apples—the box label 'Há' never changes its size or shape.
Rhyme
Singular or plural, don't you fear, just use 'há' and it's always clear.
Story
Maria is organizing her library. She looks at a shelf with one book and says 'Há um livro'. Then she adds ten more books and says 'Há muitos livros'. Her friend asks if there are any magazines, and she says 'Não há revistas'.
Word Web
Challenge
Look around your room right now. Write down 5 sentences using 'Há' to describe what you see (e.g., 'Há uma mesa', 'Há duas cadeiras').
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, 'tem' is the dominant existential verb in speech. Using 'há' can sound very formal or literary.
In Portugal, 'há' is the standard for both speech and writing. 'Ter' is strictly for possession.
In all Lusophone countries, academic writing requires 'há' to maintain a professional tone.
Derived from the Latin 'habere', which originally meant 'to have'.
Conversation Starters
Há algum restaurante bom aqui perto?
Quantas pessoas há na sua família?
Há algum problema com o projeto?
Há de se esperar mudanças no futuro?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
___ muitos alunos na sala.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Hão muitos carros na rua.
Há um café aqui.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Which is more formal?
___ dois anos que não viajo.
Order: [muitos / Há / problemas / aqui]
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises___ muitos alunos na sala.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Hão muitos carros na rua.
Há um café aqui.
Match the meaning.
Which is more formal?
___ dois anos que não viajo.
Order: [muitos / Há / problemas / aqui]
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesNão ___ nada na geladeira! (There is nothing in the fridge!)
There is a party tonight.
Hão cinco pessoas na sala.
Match the phrases.
muita / aqui / gente / Há
Nós nos conhecemos ___ dez anos. (We met ten years ago.)
___ muitas opções no menu.
A muito barulho na rua.
There are no tickets.
___ algum médico aqui? (Is there a doctor here?)
How do you say 'It has been a long time'?
vagas / não / Há / hotel / no
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
Because 'haver' is an impersonal verb. It doesn't have a subject, so it stays in the third-person singular.
Yes, in informal Brazilian Portuguese, 'tem' is very common. However, 'há' is preferred in formal writing.
No. 'Há' is a verb meaning 'there is'. 'A' is a preposition meaning 'to' or 'at'.
Just use the same structure and add a question mark, e.g., 'Há alguém aqui?'.
Yes, it becomes 'houve' (there was/were).
Yes, it is the standard form for both speech and writing in Portugal.
Trying to pluralize it as 'hão'. Remember, it is always 'há'.
No, use 'ter' for possession. 'Há' is only for existence.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hay
The spelling is different, but the usage is identical.
Il y a
French requires a multi-word phrase, whereas Portuguese uses a single verb.
Es gibt
German uses the verb 'geben' (to give) for existence.
Arimasu / Imasu
Portuguese 'há' covers both animate and inanimate objects.
Yujad
Arabic verb conjugation is much more complex than the invariant 'há'.
You
Chinese 'you' is used for both possession and existence, similar to Brazilian 'ter'.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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