I am so confused about hay que

Question

Ok so I tried looking this up and to understand it but without luck. When do you use hay que in talking spanish and in what context and what does it translate into english. many thanks

Answer 1

Here are two lessons:

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

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://spanish.about.com/od/sentencestructure/a/necessity.htm

Hay Que

Another that is even easier to learn because it doesn't require any conjugation is hay que, again followed by an infinitive:

• Hay que ser muy listo. (It is necessary to be very ready.)

• ¿Por qué hay que usar códigos? (Why is it necessary to use codes?)

And a video if you prefer videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN_3w5YuL5w

I don't see any diffeence in your two examples. Hay que + inifnitve. what am I missing? - gringojrf, May 17, 2016

What you're missing is that we both did our posts at the same time. I came up a few seconds later. No biggie. :) - Daniela2041, May 17, 2016

Hay que recordar que es un concepto muy fácil. :) - bosquederoble, May 17, 2016

Answer 2

"Hay que" simply means "it is nessary" and is used with an infinitive.

EX. Para tener éxiro en la clase de español, hay que estudiar. (To be successful in Spanish class, it is necessary to study.

Si quieres ir a algún lugar an tu carro, hay que arrancar el motor. ( If you want to go some place in your car it is necessary to start the engine.

Hay que dar un voto a Daniela. - gringojrf, May 17, 2016

or should it be darle? - gringojrf, May 17, 2016

I don't care as long as I get the vote. :) - Daniela2041, May 17, 2016

Actually "darle" is better. :) - Daniela2041, May 17, 2016

Answer 3

One nice thing about 'hay que' is that you do not have to learn any conjugations. It's just 'hay que'.

Hay is a defective conjugation of haber. And there are other tenses as well. hay, hubo habia. etc. - gringojrf, May 17, 2016

@gringojrf: Ah don't see nuffin' defective about it atall, ya hear?? - Daniela2041, May 17, 2016

Maybe conjugation is not the best word. - katydew, May 17, 2016