existir, understanding the dictionary?

Question

1. to exist (ser real)
2. to exist (haber)
3. to exist (vivir)

The follow sentence shows the second use of the verb existir.
"Existen casi tantas clases de cuentas corrientes como bancos. = There are almost as many different types of checking accounts as there are banks.

In #2. above I see haber which would explain the translation "There are" but why is it shown that way since hay is not used?

Gracias

Answer 1

I don't see the problem:

Hay casí tantas clases de ...= There are almost as many kinds of...

Existen casí tantas clases de ...= There exist almost as many kinds of...

I would say that except in formal or written language, "existen" in Spanish is used as little as "there exist".

So the parentheses shows that you can use either existir or haber. That is a big help since I see this a lot on the words I look up and always wondered why. And...I didn't really mean to sound totally stupid. - foxluv, Apr 19, 2011

Why does casi have a tilde? The dictionary doesn't show one. - pesta, Apr 19, 2011

Gracias pesta...double checked my book and it does not have a tilde. - foxluv, Apr 20, 2011

Answer 2

both verbs are allowed in this sentence, cause they mean the same. But "existen" is more used like the formal way. "Hay" is more informal I mean using "existen" in a lecture or in a scientific book (for example) is better than using "hay"

Answer 3

My understanding of "hay" is that it is a very general use, meaning in general, there is. Perhaps existen is used here to be specific, you know, the way Spanish is :p