Spanish grammar
Hay vs está
Say what there is and where it is.
From the scene Hay una farmacia (There is a pharmacy)
In short
Use hay to say something exists (hay una farmacia). Use está for where a known thing is.
- there is / are (a) hay
- it is (location) está
- there is a pharmacy hay una farmacia
- the pharmacy is there la farmacia está allí
Your turn
Which one goes with it is (location)?
Options: está · hay · hay una farmacia
Show answer
it is (location) → está
How it works
Hay says something exists (a, one, some), and it is the same for one thing or many: hay una farmacia, hay dos bancos.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
El banco (blank) al lado.
Options: está · hay
Show answer
El banco está al lado.
The bank is right next to it.
Good to know
Está says where a specific, known thing is.
there is / are (a) hay
Javi
Sí, hay una farmacia cerca.
Yes, there is a pharmacy nearby.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sí, (blank) una farmacia cerca.
Options: hay · está · la farmacia está allí
Show answer
Javi
Sí, hay una farmacia cerca.
Yes, there is a pharmacy nearby.
it is (location) está
Javi
Está en la Plaza Mayor.
It's in the main square.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) en la Plaza Mayor.
Options: Está · Hay · Hay una farmacia
Show answer
Javi
Está en la Plaza Mayor.
It's in the main square.
there is a pharmacy hay una farmacia
Nuria
Javi, ¿hay una farmacia cerca?
Javi, is there a pharmacy nearby?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Javi, ¿(blank) cerca?
Options: hay una farmacia · está · la farmacia está allí
Show answer
Nuria
Javi, ¿hay una farmacia cerca?
Javi, is there a pharmacy nearby?
the pharmacy is there la farmacia está allí
Your turn
What goes with la farmacia está allí?
Options: it is (location) · the pharmacy is there · there is / are (a)
Show answer
la farmacia está allí → the pharmacy is there
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| there is / are (a) | hay |
|---|---|
| it is (location) | está |
| there is a pharmacy | hay una farmacia |
| the pharmacy is there | la farmacia está allí |
More lines from the story
- JaviEl banco está al lado.The bank is right next to it.
- NuriaJavi, ¡tú sabes dónde está todo!Javi, you know where everything is!
- Nuria¿Dónde está exactamente?Where is it exactly?