How do you translate it into English?
2
votes
I read a sentence, "Cuando me siento mal, hay que cantar." How do you translate it into English? Can I say "When I feel bad, I have to sing/I need to sing"?
1544 views
updated Jun 22, 2013
posted by joygogo
That's a good translation - lagartijaverde, Jun 21, 2013
Yes. - annierats, Jun 21, 2013
2 Answers
2
votes
Hay que + infinitive is used to express "one must do something". Since there are no subjects (or subject) Hay que, instead of tener que is used.
updated Jun 24, 2013
posted by tranceslyvania
I believe that is the correct answer from what I have learnt through grammar. It is more general than tener que. Tener que is something that you are obligated to do where as Hay que is more general. One must brush their teeth - tranceslyvania, Jun 21, 2013
Yes, That is what I have learnt, too that is why I am a little surprised that the more personal me siento mal was mixed with the impersonal hay que ! It seems strange let's see what a native thinks! - FELIZ77, Jun 21, 2013
Hay que = someone should do something/Something should be done - FELIZ77, Jun 21, 2013
This is generally helpful but it doesn't help her to translate this sentence - FELIZ77, Jun 21, 2013
Hello, Tranceslyvania, thanks for your explanation. By the way, Feliz77 seems to understand me more! - joygogo, Jun 22, 2013
2
votes
Hello, Joy..... where did you read/find this sentence, please?
I am a little surprised to find the hay que construction used in this way
It would have made more sense to say: Cuando me siento mal, tengo que cantar.
= When I feel bad, I have to sing.
However, to answer your question, I would say it probably means almost the same thing in this context:
When I feel bad, I have to sing .
I hope this helps. 
updated Jun 22, 2013
edited by FELIZ77
posted by FELIZ77
Hello, Feliz77. Since I am a beginner, I know "hay gue" only, and I haven't learned "tener que" yet. The sentence I asked is from the video lesson taught by another online teacher "Señor Jordan." - joygogo, Jun 22, 2013
Oops, a typo! It's "hay que", not "hay gue". Sorry! Could you tell me which lesson offered by SpanishDict I can learn about "tener que"? - joygogo, Jun 22, 2013
