Home / Grammar exercises / Level A2 / Diferencias entre hay y está/n
This grammar exercise will help you understand the difference between Hay (impersonal verb) and está/están. These two verbs are confusing to many students, who do not know when to use. Basically, HAY express the existence of things, people or places. Nevertheless, ESTÁ o ESTÁN express the location of these elements. Once you understand the concept, you need to respect the Spanish grammar. In this grammar exercise you will find a short explanation with tips to facilitate you the resolution of the exercise.
Yes, to say that someone exists or is somewhere without identifying them: Hay tres estudiantes en la recepción.
Hay introduces something new and unspecified (un libro). Está locates something already known (el libro).
No: hay does not go with el, la, los, las or possessives. Use está: El libro está en la mesa.
