il y a

there is, there are, and more

IL Y A is a verb phrase and is used a lot, in many different contexts in French. Learn them all here with me and practice with my exercise about IL Y A.

The expression “il y a” means different things and has different meanings in French.

il y a = there is

Il y a un hôtel sympa à Rennes.

There is a nice hotel in Rennes.

il y a = there are

Il y a des rues pittoresques à Lannion.

There are quaint streets in Lannion.

il y aura, etc.

il y a can be conjugated in almost all tenses/modes

il y a …. there is
il y aura …. there will be
il y avait …. there was
il y avait eu …. there had been
il y aura eu …. there will have been
s’il y avait …. if there were
(il faut) qu’il y ait …. there must be

il n’y a pas = there isn’t

il y a can be negative. It means ‘isn’t’.

Il n’y a pas un seul café dans ce village.

There isn’t one single café in this village.

il n’y a pas de = there isn’t/aren’t any

il n’y a pas requires DE to say isn’t any, none, etc.

Il n’y a pas de café dans ce village.

There isn’t any café in this village.

Il n’y a pas de quoi = You’re welcome or Don’t mention it

Merci. = Il n’y a pas de quoi.

Thanks. = You’re welcome.

il y a = ago

il y a + length of time

The expression “il y a + length of time” means “length of time + ago”. The verb is in the passé composé.

J’ai commencé à faire du français avec FRENCH HOUR il y a six mois.

I started studying French with FRENCH HOUR six months ago.

il y a … que = for

il y a + length of time + que

The expression “il y a + length of time + que ” means “for + length of time”. It’s the same thing as saying ““depuis + length of time”, but your sentence is built differently.

Il y a six mois que je fais du français avec FRENCH HOUR.

(Je fais du français avec FRENCH HOUR depuis six mois.)

I’ve been studying French with FRENCH HOUR for six months.

By the way, the expression “ça fait + length of time + que ” means exactly the same thing, but it’s more informal.

Ça fait six mois que je fais du français avec FRENCH HOUR.

(Il y a six mois que je fais du français avec FRENCH HOUR.)

I’ve been studying French with FRENCH HOUR for six months.

il y a combien de temps que … ? = for how long …?

il y a as a question

Il y a combien de temps que tu fais du français à FRENCH HOUR ?

(For) how long have you been studying French with FRENCH HOUR ?

EXO – Practice

Translate the sentences into French with a form or IL Y A in all of them.

English

There is a bowl on the table.
There are words that are difficult to translate.
It will be sunny this afternoon.
There were a lot of people.
Some screens will already been distributed to students.
There must be more specific addresses.
I would go to the circus if there were magicians.
There will be no problems.
There was never any trouble before.
There is not a single mistake in your dictation. Yay!
There aren’t any slippers in this store.
-Thanks for having given me a lift to the class. -Don’t mention it.
Didn’t you come here 2 years ago already?
I have been listening to this program for 20 years.
How long has the company existed?

Français

Il y a un bol sur la table.
Il y a des mots difficiles à traduire.
Il y aura du soleil cet après-midi.
Il y avait beaucoup de monde.
Il y aura déjà eu des écrans de distribués aux élèves.
Il faut qu’il y ait des adresses plus précises.
J’irais bien au cirque s’il y avait des magiciens.
Il n’y aura pas de problèmes.
Il n’y avait jamais de soucis avant.
Il n’y a pas une seule faute dans votre dictée. Super !
Il n’y a pas de chaussons dans ce magasin.
Merci de m’avoir amenée au cours. — Il n’y a pas de quoi.
Tu n’es pas déjà venue il y a 2 ans ?
Il y a 20 ans que j’écoute cette émission.
Il y a combien de temps que la boite existe ?

Further your French - Allez plus Loin

ago = il y a

il y a longtemps que – Mot du Jour

for some time – Today’s French

. Accroche-minute . Cours avec Anne . Vous aimez ? Commentez . Want the PDF? – Ask Anne . Back to Course - Verbalize it .