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SPANISH VERB

haber que

to have to, it's necessary to

  • #488 most used
  • Irregular -er verb
  • Gerund: habiendo que
  • Past participle: habido que

Conjugation

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

Present

Presente · now, habits and facts

  1. it has to

Past

Pretérito indefinido · finished actions

  1. it had to

Imperfect

Pretérito imperfecto · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. it used to have to

Future

Futuro · plans and promises; in speech, “voy a hablar” is just as common

  1. it will have to

Conditional

Condicional · “would”

  1. it would have to

Present subjunctive

Presente de subjuntivo · wishes, doubts, “que …”

  1. (that) it have to

Past subjunctive

Imperfecto de subjuntivo · “if I were”, “si …”

  1. (if) it had to

How to use haber que

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

  1. Present

    Hay que reservar mesa, que es sábado.

    You have to book a table, it's Saturday.

  2. Past

    Hubo que esperar dos horas en urgencias.

    We had to wait two hours in A&E.

  3. Imperfect

    Antes había que ir al banco para todo.

    You used to have to go to the bank for everything.

  4. Future

    Habrá que comprar más hielo para la fiesta.

    We'll have to buy more ice for the party.

  5. Conditional

    Habría que pintar el salón antes de Navidad.

    The living room should be painted before Christmas.

  6. Present subjunctive

    No creo que haya que llevar corbata a la cena.

    I don't think a tie is needed for the dinner.

  7. Past subjunctive

    Si hubiera que elegir, me quedaría con Cádiz.

    If I had to choose, I'd go with Cadiz.

Good to know

  • "Hay que" is for everyone and no one: hay que trabajar. "Tener que" is for a person: tengo que trabajar.

Where you hear haber que

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

Spanish · Advanced Level 2

  • El Domingo de Ramos hay que estrenar algo. On Palm Sunday you have to wear something new.
  • En la comisaría solo hubo que esperar diez minutos. At the police station we only had to wait ten minutes.
  • Un pasaporte para diez años... Pues habrá que viajar. A passport for ten years... Then we'll have to travel.
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What Have I Missed?

Advanced Level 2 · habrá que

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Verbs like this one

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