State and existence
What exists, or what state is something in?
Meaning
We can say that something exists, where it is, or what state it is in without describing an action. This lets us describe a situation, such as a room being warm or food being available. Some languages use a linking verb, a verb that connects something to its description, while others have no such verb or leave it out in some sentences. Identity and classification instead says who or what something is or which group it belongs to.
How to spot it
Look for a description of what exists, where something is, or what condition it is in, rather than an action or change.
In your native language
English often uses be to describe a state or say where something is. To introduce something as existing or being present, it commonly uses there is or there are. Other verbs, such as exist, know, and belong, can express states too.
The kitchen is warm.
Is connects the kitchen to a description of its state.
My glasses are on the table.
Are is needed even though the sentence describes a location, not an action.
There is some milk in the fridge.
There is introduces something present; there does not mean in that place here.
In your learning language
Spanish uses estar for the location of people and things and for many current or resulting conditions, while ser describes characteristic qualities. Haber introduces the presence or existence of something, with hay as its present form. This use of haber stays singular even when several people or things are mentioned.
Hay una farmacia en esta calle.
There's a pharmacy on this street.
Hay introduces something that is present, rather than locating an already identified pharmacy.
La puerta está abierta.
The door is open.
Había muchas personas en la estación.
There were many people at the station.
Había stays singular despite the plural muchas personas.
Learners whose language leaves out a linking verb in descriptions may omit estar. Learners whose language makes an existence verb match the things mentioned may incorrectly use a plural form of haber, as in *Habían tres sillas.