haver-hi (temps compostos i modals)

Haver-hi in Compound and Modal Tenses

Level 4

Keep existential hi with haver through compound tenses and modal constructions.

How It Works

Present hi ha becomes past hi havia or hi va haver and perfect hi ha hagut. The first ha in hi ha hagut is the auxiliary; hagut is the participle. Do not omit either part because the present form also contains ha.

Formal edited usage conventionally keeps existential haver-hi singular even when the following noun phrase is plural. This also supplies a clear model for hi pot haver and hi hauria hagut. Plural agreement exists in several spoken varieties and should be described as register and regional variation, not as unintelligible Catalan.

The existential pronoun hi belongs to the construction. It remains even when a separate place phrase identifies where the things exist.

Examples (3)

  1. Hi ha hagut molts canvis.

    There have been many changes.

  2. Hi pot haver retards.

    There may be delays.

  3. Hi hauria hagut més temps.

    There would have been more time.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

haver-hi (temps compostos i modals)Level 4Haver-hi in Compound and Modal Tenses

Learn This First

Recognize the formal existential nonagreement model before using auxiliaries. Recognize auxiliary plus participle before choosing subjunctive perfect or clitic agreement.

Words in This Pattern

haver-hihaver