Using hubo = there was / there were (simple past)

Silvia Piriz
2020-04-15
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In Spanish we use hubo to say there was or there were. Read and listen to these examples:

Hubo una tormenta muy fuerte.There was a big storm.

Hubo muchos problemas con los turistas.There were many problems with the tourists.

Hubo muchas personas en la manifestación.There were many people at the demonstration.

Hubo una fiesta en casa.There was a party at home.

Hubo poca comida en la boda.There was very little food at the wedding.

Hubo algunas jóvenes en la oficina.There were some young people in the office.


In Spanish, you use hubo whether it is followed by one item or many, unlike in English.

GRAMMAR: Both Hay and Hubo are impersonal forms that come from the third person of the verb haber. Hubo is in El Pretérito Indefinido, literally meaning it had.

 

Haber belongs to a group of verbs that have an irregular stem in El Pretérito Indefinido but share the same set of endings. To learn more about this have a look at Irregulares en Indefinido/mismas terminaciones.

See also Using había to say there was / there were

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Examples and resources

Hubo poca comida en la boda.There was very little food at the wedding.
Hubo muchos problemas con los turistas.There were many problems with the tourists.
Hubo muchas personas en la manifestación.There were many people at the demonstration.
Hubo algunas jóvenes en la oficina.There were some young people in the office.
Hubo una fiesta en casa.There was a party at home.
Hubo una tormenta muy fuerte.There was a big storm.
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