Há (there is/are) in Portuguese

Overview

Há (there is/are) (Há Existencial) is a beginner (CEFR A1) topic in Portuguese grammar. Impersonal 'há' for existence ('there is/there are'). Also for time expressions (há dois anos = two years ago / for two years). Invariable form.

Understanding há (there is/are) is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A1 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering há (there is/are) will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Ha is the impersonal form of haver used for existence and time:

For existence (there is/there are):

Portuguese	English
Ha um problema.	There is a problem.
Ha muitas pessoas.	There are many people.
Nao ha leite.	There is no milk.

Note: Ha does not change for plural -- it is always ha.

For time (ago / for):

Portuguese	English	Meaning
Ha dois anos.	Two years ago.	past reference
Vivo aqui ha dois anos.	I have lived here for two years.	duration

Ha vs Tem: In Brazilian Portuguese, tem is commonly used in place of ha in speech: Tem um problema (There is a problem). This is informal.

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Há um problema.	There is a problem.
Há muitas pessoas.	There are many people.
Não há leite.	There's no milk.
Vivo aqui há dois anos.	I've lived here for two years.
Ha um supermercado perto.	There is a supermarket nearby.
Nao ha vagas.	There are no vacancies.
Quantos ha?	How many are there?
Ha anos que estudo.	I have studied for years.
Ha pouco tempo.	A short time ago.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect form usage

• Wrong: Applying rules from English or other languages directly
• Right: Follow Portuguese-specific patterns for há (there is/are)
• Why: Portuguese has its own rules that do not always align with English or other Romance languages.

Forgetting agreement rules

• Wrong: Not matching gender, number, or person correctly
• Right: Ensure all elements in the sentence agree with each other
• Why: Portuguese requires strict agreement between subjects, verbs, articles, adjectives, and pronouns.

Mixing formal and informal registers

• Wrong: Using tu forms with voce verb conjugations, or vice versa
• Right: Be consistent with your chosen register throughout a conversation
• Why: Register consistency is important for natural-sounding Portuguese.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A1 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, há (there is/are) is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice há (there is/are) with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using há (there is/are) and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Ter (to have) -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for há (there is/are)
• Next steps: Impersonal Constructions -- builds on há (there is/are) concepts