Habiendo use

Question

Does 'Estoy habiendo un fiesta' mean I am having a party or should teniendo be used instead. I am confused because I think of it as the party is coming into existence as I create it, but I guess it is also a possession as in my party. Just not sure here. Thank you!

Welcome to SpanishDict, Shairfield. - rac1, Aug 3, 2017

Answer 1

Hay una fiesta. There is a party.
Tengo una fiesta. I have a party.
Estoy teniendo una fiesta. Very unusual, seldom heard. Instead use Tengo.

Habrá una fiesta. There will be a party.
Va a haber una fiesta. There is going to be a party.

Answer 2

Shairfield:

Habiendo would not be used here.

In fact, Spanish speakers would not use the present progressive in this case if you mean that you are going to have a party sometime in the near future. Using the present progressive would mean that you are currently having a party. (see P.S. below)

One way you could say this, if you are talking about having a party in the near future would be:

Voy a dar una fiesta.

I'm going to have a party. (Literally, I'm going to give a party)

From the SD dictionary: dar u organizar una fiesta - to give o throw a party;

There are several other ways to say this, and the above may not be the most common way to say it, but my main points are that haber is not the right verb in this situation and present progressive should not be used unless the activity is currently happening. (unlike English where we use the present progressive in this situation and many others where Spanish speakers don't)

As a side note, every Spanish learner should realize that the verbs we use in English for many everyday events are not the ones used in Spanish that you would find if you looked the English verb up in a bilingual dictionary. For example, "I'll have a hamburger" would never be said with tener or haber.

There are many other ways to express the desire for a hamburger and I won't explain them here. But one way, just to show you how different Spanish and English verbs can be it:

Ponme una hamburguesa.

Literally, put me a hamburger or put a hamburger to me.

The best way to learn these things is to take a structured course in Spanish such as we offer here under Learn Spanish in the main menu and then choose SpanishDict Video Course...the one with the picture of the pretty lady.

Another way to learn is to check the dictionary. If you look up party (or fiesta) in the dictionary you will see what Spanish verbs are typically used with parties.

Great question by the way!

P. S. I should note that the present progress IS sometimes used for upcoming events in Spanish. It may even be quite common in United States Spanish and Mexican Spanish where Spanish speakers are often influenced by English usage. However, according to the grammar books the usage for upcoming events is not accepted.

Answer 3

To use a phrase ' I have come late to the party'

I remember an interesting lesson about Haber from our teacher who is always keen to discuss etymology. I am in England but he is from Spain and one of his degrees was in the Spanish language at Madrid and Salamanca.

I remember Haber used to be used for to have, in old Spanish. Gradually tener found favour.

Here is an infographic about the uses of Haber. NB the special conjugation for there is/there are.

I do remember the endings for the present tense of Haber (if you say it out loud you do not say the h) are in fact the endings for the future tense ,- I don't have my notes here at the moment so cannot remember the etymological reason. However, I found it easy to learn Haber in the present tense and was impressed that I now know knew the future tense.

thanks for this Pat :) - billygoat, Aug 4, 2017

De nada - Mardle, Aug 4, 2017

Answer 4

In addition to Ken’s excellent description as to why your choice of tenses is not the correct one-

You would not use haber, because when used not as part of the perfect tense, it is used mainly in the third person as “there is/are”

So “va a haber una fiesta” would mean there is going to be a party. You cannot put yourself into this type of usage. You cannot say who is giving the party with haber.

You can say something like “he aquí tu respuesta” I have your answer here. But it is somewhat archaic and probably becoming less used to my understanding. This probably should be saved for more advanced users. It can be heard though I think.

This is a perfect tense example conjugated to you.

He tenido/dado una fiesta. I have had/given a party. (See below for comment on tener)

But voy a tener/dar una fiesta. I am going to have/give a party. (See below for comment on tener)

There may be a difference between tener and dar. I have seen some say tener means more you are going to it, rather than holding it yourself- I have a party to go to, so to speak.

Hacer/organizar una fiesta may be other options for holding it yourself, in addition to dar.

In English at a minimum for: voy a dar/hacer/organizar una fiesta- I am going to have/give/hold/organize a party. We can even say I am going to do a party I think (colloquial modern speak), but make a party sounds weird.

I think there are regional preferences between dar/hacer/organizar but I am not sure who uses which where.

Bosque: thanks for the reminder about haber and not using when you, yourself are involved. I had forgotten that. :) - DilKen, Aug 3, 2017

I don't think you really had, it is automatic for you to use that verb correctly, I think it only that it had slipped your mind that new learners need to be reminded of that. :) - bosquederoble, Aug 3, 2017

Bosque: you're probably right, I generally use it correctly when it is hay, haya or haber and in the compound tenses. However, I rarely use it correctly with Ha habido. I often use Ha sido or Ha estado instead. (: Still learning :) - DilKen, Aug 3, 2017

Answer 5

"Celebro una fiesta y que todos vengan." "I'm having a party and I hope everyone comes."

No, I wouldn't use "haber" in any case. The way I wrote it in the above sentence implies that the party hasn't occurred yet, but will very soon.