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Spanish (Spain)

### The Invariable "Haber"

The impersonal verb **haber** expresses existence (like **hay** for "there is" or "there are"). 

In compound tenses like the present perfect ("there has/have been"), always use the singular form **ha habido**. Avoid the common mistake of making it plural (*han habido*), even with plural nouns.

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This strict singular rule also applies to phrases like **ir a** + infinitive. Always use **va a haber** ("there is/are going to be"), never *van a haber*.

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### Planning for Complications

When managing logistics, it is always best to have a backup plan. The phrase **por si** (in case) is incredibly useful for discussing precautions and contingencies.

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Notice how **por si** pairs naturally with present or present perfect tenses to prepare for unexpected issues.

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Impersonal haber (ha habido, va a haber)

### Precautions with "por si"

To say you are doing something "in case" a specific situation happens, use the phrase *por si* followed by a verb in the present indicative tense. *Por si* is always followed by the present tense, even if the main action is a command or in the future tense.

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### "Just in case" with "por si acaso"

If the possible situation is already understood from context, you do not need to add a verb. Instead, simply use *por si acaso* (just in case).

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### In a past story

In a story told in the indefinido, the verb after **por si** usually moves to the imperfect: *Cogí el paraguas **por si llovía**.* (I took the umbrella in case it rained.) After the perfecto, while the thing can still happen, the present stays: *He cogido el paraguas **por si llueve**.*

Precautions (por si)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular subjects and 'ser' (yo soy, esto es)

Plural nouns and definite articles (los, las)

Plural pronouns and 'ser' (somos, sois, son)

Adjective agreement (-o, -a, -os, -as)

Indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas)

Simple negation (no)

Yes/no questions

Regular '-ar' verbs (-o, -as, -a...)

Regular '-er' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Regular '-ir' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Locative adverbs (aquí, allí)

Question words (quién, cómo)

The verb estar (estoy, estás)

The preposition en (en)

Ser vs. estar

The verb tener (tengo, tienes)

Possessive determiners (mi, tu, su)

Origin and possession (de, del)

The verb ir (voy, vas)

Destination (a, al)

The personal 'a' (a)

Stem-changing verbs: e to ie

Stem-changing verbs: o to ue

Irregular first-person verbs

Reflexive verbs (me, te, se)

Numbers 1 to 10 (uno, dos, tres)

Numbers 11 to 20 (once, doce, trece)

Counting by tens to 100 (treinta, cuarenta, cien)

Compound numbers up to 99 (veintiuno, treinta y uno)

Days of the week (el lunes, el martes)

The family and the personal 'a' (a mi tío, a mi prima)

Months of the year

Telling time (es la, son las)

Verbs of liking (me gusta)

Plural agreement with verbs of liking (gustan)

Degree modifiers (muy, mucho)

Formal address (usted, ustedes)

Direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)

The near future (ir a)

Obligation (tener que)

Present continuous (-ando, -iendo)

Affirmative commands (tú, vosotros)

Basic Food and Drink

The Human Body: Head and Arms

The Human Body: Legs and Health

Wardrobe Essentials

Fresh Produce

Meals and Proteins

Public Transport

Hello and goodbye (hola, ¿qué tal?)

Thank you, sorry, OK (gracias, vale)

There is, there are (hay)

My building (la escalera, el ascensor)

Describing people (moreno, rubio, tímido)

Land and sea (el mar, el río, el norte)

Sightseeing (la plaza, la catedral)

Asking the way (cerca, a la derecha, todo recto)

In class (¿puedes repetir?)

Verb + infinitive (quiero comer, sé leer)

What's your name? (me llamo, encantado)

Phone, computer and email

Hundreds and thousands (doscientos, mil)

What do you do? (¿a qué te dedicas?)

Personal details (la edad, la fecha de nacimiento)

Me neither (también, tampoco, ni)

How much is it? (el precio, la vuelta)

What's the weather like? (hace sol, nieva)

Free time (el concierto, el tenis)

At the bar (¿qué vas a tomar?)

The Natural World

Demonstratives (este, ese, aquel)

Prepositions of place (encima de, debajo de)

Prepositional pronouns (para mí, contigo)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (primero to décimo)

Adverbs of frequency (a veces, nunca)

Exclamations (¡qué...!)

Indefinite pronouns (algo, alguien)

Indefinite determiners (algún, ningún)

Indirect object pronouns (le, les)

Double object pronouns (me lo, te la)

Double object pronouns (se lo, se la)

Verbs of preference (encantar, interesar)

Impersonal obligation (hay que)

Starting and finishing actions (empezar a, terminar de)

Adjective comparatives (más que, menos que)

Question	Answer
the complication	la complicación
Today there have been many complications.	Hoy ha habido muchas complicaciones.
Check the contract in case there have been complications.	Revisen el contrato por si ha habido complicaciones.
the delay	la demora
Today there are going to be several delays.	Hoy va a haber varias demoras.
Do not cause more delays, please.	No causen más demoras, por favor.
the capacity	el aforo
Today there have been problems with the capacity.	Hoy ha habido problemas con el aforo.
Do not exceed the capacity in case the police come.	No superen el aforo por si viene la policía.
the PA system	la megafonía
There are going to be announcements on the PA system.	Va a haber avisos por megafonía.
The PA system, do not turn it off yet.	La megafonía, no la apaguen todavía.
the confusion	la confusión
This week there have been many confusions.	Esta semana ha habido muchas confusiones.
Do not create more confusion, gentlemen.	No creen más confusión, señores.
the sponsor	el patrocinador
There are going to be complaints from the sponsors.	Va a haber quejas de los patrocinadores.
The sponsors, do not invite them today.	A los patrocinadores, no los inviten hoy.
the altercation	el altercado
Today there have been several altercations.	Hoy ha habido varios altercados.
There is going to be security in case there is an altercation.	Va a haber seguridad por si hay algún altercado.
the disorganization	la desorganización
There has been too much disorganization here.	Ha habido demasiada desorganización aquí.
The disorganization, we are going to avoid it.	La desorganización la vamos a evitar.
to relocate	reubicar
We are going to relocate the tent in case it rains.	Vamos a reubicar la carpa por si llueve.
The guests, do not relocate them yet.	A los invitados, no los reubiquen todavía.
the badge	la acreditación
The badges, do not lose them.	Las acreditaciones, no las pierdan.
There is going to be a long line for the badges.	Va a haber mucha cola para las acreditaciones.
to jump the queue, to sneak in	colarse
There have been people sneaking into the concert.	Ha habido gente que se ha colado en el concierto.
Excuse me, don't jump the queue! There's a long queue.	¡Oiga, no se cuele! Hay mucha cola.
the guard (also: a Civil Guard officer)	el guardia
The guard at the door asked us for our badges.	El guardia de la puerta nos pidió las acreditaciones.
There are going to be guards at all the doors.	Va a haber guardias en todas las puertas.
the bomb	la bomba
There has been a bomb warning at the stadium.	Ha habido un aviso de bomba en el estadio.
The police have found a fake bomb.	La policía ha encontrado una bomba falsa.

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