il y avait
The English phrase "there was" is translated into French as il y avait.
il y avait is used to say that something existed or was present in the past.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "it there had", composed of il (it), y (there) and avait (had).
Which one should you use?
While il y avait describes an ongoing state or background in the past, the form il y a eu is used for a completed event or a specific occurrence.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase il y avait remains invariable regardless of whether the subject that follows is singular or plural.
Did you know?
- The adverb y is historically linked to the Latin word 'hic', which means 'here', making the phrase a way of saying 'it here had'.
- While the phrase is used to describe existence, the word avait is the past tense of the verb 'to have', meaning French conceptually 'has' something in a place to indicate it is there.
Examples in context
- Il y avait un hic.There was a fly in the ointment.This sentence shows how to use il y avait in an idiomatic expression.Tatoeba #12650126 by lbdx, translation #5882224 by OsoHombre
- Il y avait un témoin.There was a witness.This sentence uses il y avait to identify a person who was present.Tatoeba #7763094 by sacredceltic, translation #2548159 by CK
- Il y avait une poule.There was a chicken.This sentence uses il y avait to indicate the presence of an animal.Tatoeba #8412987 by Aiji, translation #7922963 by AlanF_US
- Il y avait un grand château dans la vallée.There was a big castle in the valley.
- Il y a eu une énorme fête chez Lucas.There was a huge party at Lucas' place.
- 211 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Emma are talking about a party they attended yesterday.
- LucasIl y avait beaucoup de monde à la fête ?Were there many people at the party?
- EmmaOui, il y avait une foule incroyable.Yes, there was an incredible crowd.
- LucasIl y avait de la musique aussi ?Was there music too?
- EmmaOui, il y avait un très bon DJ.Yes, there was a very good DJ.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries il, y, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
