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FRENCH VERB

il y avoir

there is, there are

  • Irregular -ir verb
  • Past participle: eu
  • Present participle: ayant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. there is

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. there was

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. there used to be

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. there will be

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. there would be

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. (that) there be

How to use il y avoir

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Il y a une pharmacie au coin de la rue.

    There's a pharmacy on the corner of the street.

  2. Past

    Il y a eu un accident sur l'autoroute.

    There was an accident on the motorway.

  3. Imperfect

    Il y avait un monde fou au marché.

    There were loads of people at the market.

  4. Future

    Il y aura de la place pour tout le monde.

    There'll be room for everyone.

  5. Conditional

    Sans la grève, il y aurait moins de bouchons.

    Without the strike, there'd be fewer traffic jams.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Je ne pense pas qu'il y ait encore des places.

    I don't think there are any seats left.

Good to know

  • Il y a is the same for one or many : il y a un chat, il y a des chats; the negative is il n'y a pas.
  • Il y a also means ago : il y a deux ans, two years ago.
  • Est-ce qu'il y a… ? or Y a-t-il… ? asks whether there is; in speech people shorten it to Y a un problème ?

Where you hear il y avoir

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

French · Beginner Level 2

  • Il y a un jardin. There is a garden.
  • Il y avait un jardin. There was a garden.
  • Il y aura un jardin. There will be a garden.

French · Beginner Level 3

  • Il y a un jardin. There is a garden.
  • Il y avait un jardin. There was a garden.
  • Il y aura un jardin. There will be a garden.
8
Ask a Neighbour for Help

Beginner Level 2 · Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude !

Needs a subscription 15
Compare Ways to Travel

Beginner Level 2 · Il y a des pistes cyclables.

Needs a subscription 17
When I Was Little

Beginner Level 2 · Il y avait un jardin. · Il n'y avait pas de jardin.

Needs a subscription 11
Pack for a Trip

Beginner Level 3 · Il y aura du vent.

Needs a subscription 12
Collect a Hire Car

Beginner Level 3 · Il y a une rayure ici.

Needs a subscription 13
Ask for the Way

Beginner Level 3 · Il n'y a pas de réseau !

Needs a subscription 17
Buy Food at the Market

Beginner Level 3 · Il y en a assez pour tout le monde.

Needs a subscription 18
Talk During a Power Cut

Beginner Level 3 · Il n'y a plus d'électricité !

Needs a subscription 20
Talk About a Trip

Beginner Level 3 · Un soir, il y avait une tempête.

Needs a subscription 4
Show Someone Around

Intermediate Level 1 · Il n'y a pas d'ascenseur.

Needs a subscription 11
Arrange Classes

Intermediate Level 1 · Il y a déjà du monde devant la porte ! · Le mercredi, il n'y a plus de place !

Needs a subscription 12
Ask a Colleague for Help

Intermediate Level 1 · Il y aurait une classe pour les enfants.

Needs a subscription

And 14 more lessons.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: irregular -ir verb.