Questions & Answers about יש פה המון אנשים.
What does יש do in this sentence?
יש is the Hebrew word used for there is / there are in the sense of existence or presence.
So in sentences like this, Hebrew often uses:
יש + place + thing/person
For example:
- יש פה מים = There is water here.
- יש פה אנשים = There are people here.
It does not mean has here; it is an existential word.
Why is יש the same even though אנשים is plural?
Because יש does not change for singular or plural.
English distinguishes:
- there is
- there are
Hebrew does not do that with יש. You use יש with both:
- יש פה אדם אחד = There is one person here.
- יש פה הרבה אנשים = There are many people here.
The noun tells you whether it is singular or plural.
Why is there no separate verb for are?