Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Há risco de gelo na estrada.

Word

Há risco de gelo na estrada.

Meaning

There is a risk of ice on the road.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal)

Lesson

Lesson 27

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Questions & Answers about Há risco de gelo na estrada.

What does Há mean in the sentence Há risco de gelo na estrada.?

Há is the third-person singular present of haver used existentially, meaning there is or there are. So the sentence means there is a risk of ice on the road.

Why use Há instead of Tem or Existe?

Há (from haver) is the standard existential verb in written and formal notices.
Tem risco de gelo is more colloquial and common in speech.
Existe risco de gelo is also correct but more formal; há is shorter and idiomatic on signs.

Why is it risco de gelo and not risco para gelo?

risco de X = risk of X happening
risco para X = risk to X (X is the object at risk)
Since the ice itself is the hazard, we use risco de gelo

Why is risco in the singular? Can it be plural?