Plea translate this sentence.

Question

The sentence: "¿Crees que en el libro haya alguna foto que me guste?"

Context: A girl (big sister) is reading a book about the mining industry and little brother asks her the question.

Naturally, I´ve put it in the electronic translator. Unfortunately, computer translators seem to go downhill fast from words to phrases to sentences. I understand, from the context, what the little boy is asking but I can´t get my head around exactly how the specific words add up here.

It appears to me that "haya" means "there is" here. I thought only "hay" could be translated as such. In any case, I´m confused. Please translate what it means to you.

As vida says below you have bumped into the "joys" of the Spanish subjunctive, :) - ian-hill, Apr 29, 2013

For some exercises in subjunctive and other forms feel free to visit my blog, it's kinda tailored to my class to help classmates out, but I think you could still use it: vidadescott.blogspot.com - Vida_de_Scott, May 6, 2013

Thanks for the link. That´s a peculiar looking dish in your picture captioned: "La cena desde Cafe Colibri en Cuarnava, México" It looks like a couple cheap microwave pizzas, but I´m sure, instead, it´s rather something delicious and handmade. - Trieltor, May 6, 2013

Haha, I totally thought it was a microwave pizza for a split second, but after taking a bite I confirmed that it was, indeed, hand made and super delicious. - Vida_de_Scott, May 12, 2013

Answer 1

"Haya" is the subjunctive form of "haber", basically the same word as "hay" just conjugated to a different mood.

It sounds to me to be: Do you think the there is a picture that I'll like in the book?

This is by no means an exact translation, but the sense of what is being said by the boy.

That said, I could be wrong about the translation.

Thanks for trying and your honest response. - Trieltor, Apr 30, 2013

Answer 2

Haya and guste are both forms of the subjunctive mood.

Usually after affirmative sentences with creer you would use the indicative forms of the verb instead of the subjunctive; 'hay' and 'gusta'.

Cree que hay ...

You believe that there are ....

After negative sentence with creer you use the subjunctive.

No cree que haya ....

You don't believe that there is ....

With questions this doesn't usually change, so for your example I would have expected to see those two verbs in the indicative mood - ha and gusta.

I believe however that using the subjunctive with creer in questions is acceptable to some native speakers (and it is avoided by others).

"No cree que haya ....You don't believe that there is ...." It sounds, Kiwi-Girl, like you are saying that "haya", like "hay", does indeed mean "there is" in this instance. - Trieltor, Apr 30, 2013

yes they can both be translated as 'there is ' - the difference is that 'hay' in the indicative declares a truth or something that's perceived to be the truth, whereas the subjunctive 'haya' does not. - Kiwi-Girl, Apr 30, 2013

ie. - you don't usually want to declare something to be a fact in the same sentence where you're denying belief in it (be that your belief or someone elses) - Kiwi-Girl, Apr 30, 2013