haber
/ah-BER/
The verb 'haber' helps you talk about things you *have done*. Here, the artist *ha pintado* (has painted) a picture.
haber (Verb (auxiliary))
📝 In Action
Yo he comido paella.
A2I have eaten paella.
¿Alguna vez has estado en México?
A2Have you ever been to Mexico?
Cuando llegamos, ellos ya se habían ido.
B1When we arrived, they had already left.
Espero que hayas dormido bien.
B1I hope that you have slept well.
💡 Grammar Points
Building Perfect Tenses
'Haber' is your main helper verb to talk about what has happened or had happened. You pair it with the '-ado' or '-ido' form of another verb, like 'he hablado' (I have spoken) or 'hemos comido' (we have eaten).
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Haber' vs. 'Tener'
Mistake: "Yo haber un coche."
Correction: Yo tengo un coche. Use 'tener' to talk about owning or possessing things. Use 'haber' as a helper for other verbs (he comido) or to say 'there is/are' (hay).
⭐ Usage Tips
The Unchanging Partner
When you use 'haber' this way, the second verb (the '-ado'/'-ido' one) never changes its ending for gender or number. It's always 'comido', never 'comida' or 'comidos'. Only 'haber' changes: 'he comido', 'has comido'.
'Hay' tells you that something exists. 'Hay una manzana' means 'There is an apple'. It also works for plural: 'Hay manzanas' means 'There are apples'.
haber (Verb (impersonal))
📝 In Action
Hay un libro en la mesa.
A1There is a book on the table.
¿Hay preguntas?
A1Are there any questions?
Había mucha gente en la fiesta.
A2There were a lot of people at the party.
Hubo un accidente ayer.
B1There was an accident yesterday.
💡 Grammar Points
One Form for Everything
The best part about 'hay' is that it means both 'there is' AND 'there are'. You don't have to change it! 'Hay un gato' (There is one cat), 'Hay diez gatos' (There are ten cats). It always stays the same.
Talking About the Past
To say 'there was/were', you have two choices. Use 'había' for descriptions ('Había sol' - It was sunny) and 'hubo' for specific events that happened ('Hubo una fiesta' - There was a party).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Son' or 'Están'
Mistake: "Son tres libros en la mesa."
Correction: Hay tres libros en la mesa. To say 'there are', always use 'hay'. 'Son' and 'están' mean 'they are', which is different.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Common Phrase: 'Hay que'
You'll often hear 'hay que' followed by a verb. It's a general way to say something must be done. For example, 'Hay que estudiar' means 'One has to study' or 'It's necessary to study'.
When used as a noun, 'haberes' (almost always plural) refers to a person's assets or possessions, like money or property.
haber (Noun)
📝 In Action
El testamento dividía todos sus haberes entre sus tres hijos.
C1The will divided all his assets among his three children.
La empresa declaró la totalidad de sus haberes.
C2The company declared its total assets.
⭐ Usage Tips
Almost Always Plural
When used as a noun, you will almost always see this word in its plural form: 'los haberes'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: haber
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'There were three cats in the garden'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'haber' and 'tener'? They both mean 'to have'!
This is a great question! While they both come from a similar idea, they have very different jobs now. Use 'tener' for possession (I have a car - Tengo un coche). Use 'haber' as a helper verb to say what you *have done* (I have eaten - He comido) or to say 'there is/are' (There is a car - Hay un coche).
Why is 'hay' spelled so differently from 'haber'?
It's an old, irregular form that stuck around. It comes from 'ha' (from haber) plus 'y' (an old word for 'there'). Over time, they just fused together into 'hay'. You just have to memorize it as a special case.
When do I use 'había' vs. 'hubo' for 'there was/were'?
It's a tricky difference! Use 'había' to describe a scene or an ongoing situation in the past ('Había muchas nubes' - There were a lot of clouds). Use 'hubo' for a specific event that happened and ended ('Hubo un terremoto' - There was an earthquake).