A1 · être, avoir and there is
il y a — there is, there are
One form for the singular and the plural.
il y a says that something exists. The form never changes — not for number and not for gender. English changes the verb («there is a problem», «there *are* two problems») and French does not: il y a un problème, il y a deux problèmes.
It is followed by an indefinite article or a number, never by a definite one. To say where a particular thing is, use être instead — the same split English makes between «there is a bakery here» and «the bakery is over there».
Negated it is il n'y a pas de, with the same change of article as after any other negative.
Die Form
| there is, there are | il y a |
| there is no | il n’y a pas de |
| there was | il y avait |
| is there …? | y a-t-il … ? |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
il y a is the same in the singular and the plural.
Il y a un problème. Il y a deux problèmes.There is one problem. There are two problems.
No definite article follows il y a.
Il y a une boulangerie ici.There is a baker's here.
Negated, the article becomes de.
Il n’y a pas de pain.There is no bread.
A particular thing takes être, not il y a.
La boulangerie est en face.The baker's is opposite.
Woran man es erkennt
- un
- une
- des
- beaucoup de
- combien de
Beispielsätze
Il y a beaucoup de monde aujourd’hui.There are a lot of people today.
Il n’y a pas de place.There is no room.
Y a-t-il un médecin ici ?Is there a doctor here?
Il y a trois chambres dans l’appartement.There are three rooms in the flat.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
The verb gets made plural, because English does it: «there *are* two problems» comes out as il y sont deux problèmes. There is no such form. And il y a le pain is not «there is bread» but nothing at all — after il y a the article is indefinite, or there is a number, or there is neither.
il y a never changes.
Jetzt selbst
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