Ser/Estar/Hay

In Spanish there are different ways of saying that something exists or is somewhere. Knowing when to use ser, estar or hay is important.

The main difference between ser and estar lies in nature and state. In other words, to say what something is use ser, but to say how something is use estar. To tell where something is coming from use ser, but to tell where something is now use estar.

Hay is the impersonal form of the Spanish verb haber (to be, to have). It means there is or here is. It can follow a noun in the singular or plural without changing its form. Its position in the sentence is also quite flexible.