Learn Hardcore Catalan: En aquest edifici hi ha un ascensor, però jo prefereixo l'escala. - In this building there is an elevator, but I prefer the stairs.

Hi ha is the usual Catalan way to say there is or there are. It comes from the expression haver-hi. The hi does not need a separate English translation here; it is just part of the construction. For example, hi ha un ascensor = there is an elevator, and hi ha dos ascensors = there are two elevators.

Why does the sentence start with En aquest edifici?

En aquest edifici means In this building. Putting this first sets the location before giving the information about what is there. That word order is very natural in Catalan.

Why is it en aquest and not a aquest?

For location, en is the standard and most natural choice before a demonstrative like aquest. A aquest edifici more naturally suggests direction, like to this building. In some varieties there is some overlap between a and en, but en aquest edifici is the safest standard form here.

What does aquest mean, and why is that form used?

Aquest means this. It is masculine singular because edifici is a masculine singular noun. The other forms are aquesta for feminine singular, aquests for masculine plural, and aquestes for feminine plural.

Why is it un ascensor but l'escala?

Un is the indefinite article, so un ascensor means an elevator. The speaker is introducing it as one thing the building has. L'escala uses the definite article because it refers to the specific staircase or stairs of that building, something understood from the context. The article becomes l' because escala begins with a vowel.

Does escala really mean stairs even though it is singular?

Yes. In Catalan, escala can mean the staircase or the stairs as a single structure. English often uses the plural stairs, but Catalan may use the singular when it thinks of the stairway as one whole thing. You may also hear les escales in other contexts, but l'escala is completely natural here.

Why is jo included if prefereixo already means I prefer?

Catalan often leaves subject pronouns out, because the verb ending already tells you the person. So prefereixo l'escala already means I prefer the stairs. Here jo is added for contrast or emphasis, especially after però: but I prefer the stairs. Without jo, the sentence would still be correct.

Why is the verb prefereixo and not something like prefero?

The infinitive is preferir, and its first-person singular present form is prefereixo. Many Catalan -ir verbs follow this pattern and insert -eix- in some present-tense forms: prefereixo, prefereixes, prefereix, preferim, preferiu, prefereixen. So this is a conjugation pattern you need to learn. In some varieties, especially Valencian, you may hear preferisc instead of prefereixo.

Why does però have an accent mark?

The word però meaning but is always written with a grave accent on ò. The accent helps show the stressed vowel and its pronunciation in standard spelling. So even though it looks similar to Spanish pero, the Catalan word is però.

Could you also say Aquest edifici té un ascensor?

Yes, that is also correct. Aquest edifici té un ascensor means This building has an elevator. The original sentence, En aquest edifici hi ha un ascensor, focuses more on what exists in that location. So both are possible, but they package the information a little differently.