i a

There Is and There Are

Level 1

I a means there is and there are.

How It Works

I a says that something is there. English needs "there is" for one thing and "there are" for many, but Occitan uses i a for both: I a un gat, I a tres gats. The verb is the third person singular of aver and does not change.

Name the thing after i a and, if you like, the place. The place can come first or last: Dins l'ostal, i a un gat. or I a un gat dins l'ostal.

For a question keep the order and raise your voice: I a un libre sus la taula? For a negative, put pas after a: I a pas res. (There is nothing.)

Keep the i. Without it, a means "has".

Examples (4)

  1. I a un gat dins l'ostal.

    There is a cat in the house.

    I a introduces the cat.

  2. I a doas cadièras aicí.

    There are two chairs here.

    I a stays the same before a plural.

  3. I a un libre sus la taula?

    Is there a book on the table?

    The same order works as a question.

  4. I a pas res.

    There is nothing.

    Pas follows a.

Common Mistakes

  • Making i a agree with a plural.

    I son tres gats.
    I a tres gats.

    I a never changes. It is used for one thing and for many.

How It Connects

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

i aLevel 1There Is and There Are

Learn This First

I a is built on a form of aver, so the present of aver comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

iaver