Help with "Hay Que"

Question

As I learn more and more Spanish, I have been noticing people using the phrase "Hay que" but I am not quite understanding what it means. For example, in another thread, an answer was posted by xocoyote that said:

Para saber hablar, hay que saber escuchar.

In order to know how to talk, one must know how to listen.

I have seen several other examples of this but I do not have them in front of me to show here. However, they all were used like the one above. Am I right in thinking that "Hay que" means "it is necessary that.." ?

Answer 1

"Hay que + infinitive is used to express the idea of "one must do something" or, "it is necessary to do something." It is a more general expression and since there is no subject, the verb form hay is always used.

**Hay que tomar un taxi. It is necessary to take a taxi.

Hay que estudiar mucho. One must study a lot."**

-- http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/tenque.htm

Thank you for the link, Ravendon. Very helpful. - Jadey7, Jan 30, 2012

Answer 2

Hi!

Yes, you're right, Hay que expresses the idea that it is necessary to do something, or one must do something just like he used it in the example, and of course since the subject is unknown the verb is always in the infinitive after ''que''

Gracias, Lovely. :) - Jadey7, Jan 30, 2012

De nada :) - 00b6f46c, Jan 30, 2012

Answer 3

Hay que + infinitive Hay que+ infinitive--It is obligatory to do something you don't have to conjugate hay. Ejemplos Hay que estudiar en la clase de ingles. It is necessary to study in English class. Hay que practicar

Answer 4

Para saber hablar, hay que saber escuchar.

To know how to speak, one must know how to listen.