the verb Hay.

Question

I am finding the use of the verb Hay in tenses other Present Indicative confusing. Is it because the verb retains its multi purpose use of meaning? I mean, "hay" means both "there is" and "there are" in the Present Indicative, and "hubo" means "there was" and "there were", even though the following noun is plural? Also, after "si" when is "hubo" used in preference to "hubiera"?

Accepted Answer

Hola Anne
In the first place, apologies for our delayed response.
Yes, you're correct in observing that the verb "hay" in Spanish is versatile and is used for both "there is" and "there are" in the present indicative. Similarly, "hubo" is used for both "there was" and "there were" in the past indicative.
Regarding "hubo" vs. "hubiera" after "si", it depends on the context and the intended meaning. "Hubo" is used when talking about a real or factual situation in the past, while "hubiera" is used in hypothetical or unreal situations. For example:
Si hubo un problema, no lo supe. (If there was a problem, I didn't know.)
Si hubiera un problema, no lo sabría. (If there were a problem, I wouldn't know.)
In the first sentence, the speaker is referring to an actual past situation, so "hubo" is used. In the second sentence, the speaker is talking about a hypothetical situation, so "hubiera" is employed.
I hope it's clearer now, and thank you for your patience.
All the best
Silvia