Use of Hay Que
Spanish: AQA A Level, topic 16.4.1
Usos de 'hay que' - Use of 'hay que'
'Hay que' is another way to say 'you have to' or 'one has to'
Haber que
- Haber que is an impersonal construction. That's why it is always used in the 3rd person singular hay que.
- It goes with an infinitive.
Present tense
- The form to use is Hay que.
- Hay que recoger la ropa en tu dormitorio.
- Someone must pick up the clothes in your bedroom.
Imperfect tense
- The form to use is Había que.
- Había que dormir durante la tormenta porque no había otro remedio.
- We had to sleep during the storm because there was nothing else he could do.
Preterite
- The form to use is Hubo que.
- Hubo que quedarse de pie porque no había suficientes sillas.
- People had to stay standing because there weren’t enough chairs.
Future
- The form to use is Habrá que.
- Habrá qué volar a España porque tardaríamos mucho tiempo en llegar si fuésemos en tren.
- We will have to fly to Spain because it would take a lot of time to get there if we went by train.
Conditional
- The form to use is Habría que.
- Habría que salir temprano para evitar el calor a mediodía.
- We would have to leave early in order to avoid the midday heat.
Test yourself on Use of Hay Que
Which of these sentences uses the construction 'haber que' in the conditional tense?