ter / haver

Ter vs. Haver

Level 2

In Portuguese, ter usually means 'to own' (possession), while haver means 'there is/are' (existence) or 'ago' (time). However, in Brazil, ter is often used for existence in casual speech.

How It Works

To become proficient in these verbs, you must distinguish between three main functions:

1. Possession (Ownership): Always use ter. This is universal across all dialects.
Example: Eu tenho um livro. (I have a book.)

2. Existence (There is/are):

  • Formal/European Portuguese: Use haver (há). It is impersonal and stays in the singular. You can also use existir, which does change to the plural (e.g., Existem problemas).
  • Informal Brazilian Portuguese: Use ter. While standard in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, it is generally avoided in European Portuguese and formal writing.

Example (Formal): Há muitos problemas. (There are many problems.)
Example (Informal BR): Tem muita gente aqui. (There are many people here.)

3. Elapsed Time (Ago): Use há or faz to indicate how long something has been happening. Both remain in the singular form.
Example: Moro aqui há (ou faz) dois anos. (I have lived here for two years.)

Note on Auxiliary Verbs: In compound tenses, Portuguese uses ter as the standard auxiliary (e.g., tenho falado). Using haver as an auxiliary is possible but is restricted to very formal or literary contexts.

Examples (5)

  1. Eu tenho dois irmãos e uma irmã.

    I have two brothers and one sister.

    Word by Word: I have two brothers and one sister.

    Here, 'ter' is used for possession/family relationships, which is its primary function.

  2. Há muitas flores no jardim.

    There are many flowers in the garden.

    Word by Word: There-is many flowers in-the garden.

    In formal contexts or European Portuguese, 'há' (haver) is used for existence. Note it remains singular despite 'flores' being plural.

  3. Tem um carro parado na rua.

    There is a car parked on the street.

    Word by Word: Has a car parked on-the street.

    This is a common Brazilian informal usage where 'ter' replaces 'haver' for existence.

  4. Nós não nos vemos há muito tempo.

    We haven't seen each other for a long time.

    Word by Word: We not ourselves see for much time.

    'Há' is used here to express a duration of time that has elapsed.

  5. Houve vários acidentes ontem.

    There were several accidents yesterday.

    Word by Word: There-was several accidents yesterday.

    Even in the past tense (houve), 'haver' remains singular when expressing existence.

Common Mistakes

  • Pluralizing 'haver' when it means 'there is/are'.

    Houveram muitos problemas na festa.
    Houve muitos problemas na festa.

    When 'haver' is existential, it is impersonal and must stay in the 3rd person singular, regardless of the noun that follows.

  • Using 'a' (preposition) instead of 'há' (verb) for time.

    Eu cheguei a dez minutos.
    Eu cheguei há dez minutos.

    Use 'há' (from haver) for time that has passed. Use 'a' only for future time or distance.

  • Using 'ter' for existence in European Portuguese.

    Tem muitas pessoas na rua.
    Há muitas pessoas na rua.

    While 'ter' is common for existence in Brazil, it is a strong regional marker. In Portugal, using 'ter' instead of 'há' for 'there is/are' is considered incorrect and should be avoided.

How It Connects

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ter / haverLevel 2Ter vs. Haver

Words in This Pattern

terhaver