HAVE vs THERE IS/ARE
Use THERE IS/ARE for existence/location, HAVE for possession/attributes
Question 1
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.
_____ a problem with the computer.
Context: Existence of problems
🧠Why This Mistake Happens
The Problem:
Spanish allows 'tener' (have) more freely in existential contexts
Linguistic Reason:
Spanish uses 'hay' (there is/are) for existence, but also commonly uses 'tiene' (has) in contexts where English requires 'there is'. Spanish speakers overgeneralize HAVE to existential contexts, producing unnatural English.
Spanish Example:
Spanish: La ciudad tiene un museo / Hay un museo = The city has/There is a museum
Spanish allows 'tener' (have) more freely in existential/locative contexts than English
💡 Quick Rule:
Use THERE IS/ARE for existence/location, HAVE for possession/attributes
Exceptions:
- • The book has 300 pages (attribute - OK)
- • I have a meeting today (scheduled event - OK)
Common Examples:
The classroom has 20 students
There are 20 students in the classroom
Existence/location
In this street has many shops
There are many shops on this street
Locative existence
Has a problem with the computer
There is a problem with the computer
Existence of a problem
💡 Tips for Success
- •THERE IS/ARE for existence/location (There are shops on this street)
- •HAVE for possession/attributes (I have a car, The book has 300 pages)
- •Spanish uses \'tener\' broadly - English is more specific
- •Ask: Does it exist somewhere? → THERE IS/ARE. Does someone/something own it? → HAVE
🌟 Community Insights
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