{"id":128,"date":"2024-02-22T18:57:05","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T23:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/frenchoer1\/?post_type=chapter&p=128"},"modified":"2024-02-22T18:57:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T23:57:08","slug":"2-10-structure-il-y-a","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/frenchoer1\/chapter\/2-10-structure-il-y-a\/","title":{"raw":"2.10: Structure - Il y a","rendered":"2.10: Structure – Il y a"},"content":{"raw":"

In this section, you will learn how to use the expression il y a<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Media Alternative<\/span><\/h2>\r\nListen to the audio clips that follow on this page to hear the French pronunciation of vocabulary and examples presented.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/section>\r\n
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On \u00e9tudie !<\/h2>\r\n
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(a) Use il y a<\/strong> to say \"there is\" or \"there are\" in French. It is usually followed by an indefinite article (un<\/strong>, une<\/strong>, des<\/strong>) or a number:<\/p>\r\n

Il y a<\/strong> un livre sur la table. (There is a book on the table.)<\/p>\r\n

Il y a<\/strong> trois ordinateurs dans la salle de classe. (There are three computers in the classroom.)<\/p>\r\n

Il y a<\/strong> des tables dans le caf\u00e9. (There are tables in the caf\u00e9.)<\/p>\r\n

Il y a<\/strong> trente-cinq \u00e9tudiants dans la classe. (There are thirty-five students in the class.)<\/p>\r\n

(b) The negative form of this expression is il n'y a pas de, d'<\/strong>. It is followed by a noun without an article. Use the contracted d'<\/strong> before a noun that begins with a vowel. This expression is similar to \"there isn't any...\" or \"there is no...\" in English.<\/p>\r\n

Il n'y a pas de<\/strong> chaises dans le caf\u00e9. (There aren't any chairs in the caf\u00e9. There are no chairs in the caf\u00e9.)<\/p>\r\n

Il n'y a pas <\/strong>d'<\/strong>ordinateur dans la salle de classe. (There isn't a computer in the classroom. There is no computer in the classroom.)<\/p>\r\n

(c) Add combien de, d'<\/strong> to ask how many of something there is, are.<\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Il y a combien de<\/strong> personnes dans le caf\u00e9 ?<\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Il y en a dix.<\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Il y a combien <\/strong>d'<\/strong>\u00e9tudiants dans la classe ?<\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Il y en a trente-cinq.<\/p>\r\n

(d) The pronoun en<\/strong> in the above replies means something like \"of them\" in English. For example:<\/p>\r\n

Il y en<\/strong> a<\/strong> deux. (There are two of them.)<\/p>\r\n

Il y en<\/strong> a<\/strong> beaucoup. (There are many of them.)<\/p>\r\n

(e) To simply ask if there is something or isn't anything, say Est-ce qu'il y a<\/strong>.... or Ya-t-il... ?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Est-ce qu'il y a<\/strong> un crayon par ici ? (Is there a pencil around here?)<\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Oui, il y en a cinq sur la table. (Yes, there are five of them on the table.)<\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Y a-t-il<\/strong> des dictionnaires ? (Are there any dictionaries?)<\/p>\r\n

\u2014 Oui, mais il n'y en a pas beaucoup. (Yes, but there are not a lot of them.)<\/p>\r\n

(f) To ask what there is, or what\u2019s wrong, we say Qu'est-ce qu'il y a... ?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Note\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

There is another use of the expression il y a<\/strong> that has nothing to do with \"there is, are\". It can also be used the same way as the word \"ago\" in English. You will learn this later in this course. For a general overview of the used of Il y a<\/strong> in French watch this video: Il y a<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n