IL Y A

"Il y a", literally there is there, is very common in French and is used in many different expressions.


"Il y a" means there is or there are. 

1. Il y a 5 personnes dans la famille Dupont, or Il y a une voiture dans le garage or il y a des fruits sur la table. Note that since it indicates what is or how many things are in any given situation or place "il y a" must be followed by either "un, une, des" or what ever else expresses quantity (quelques, plusieurs, beaucoup de, etc...). In the negative we must  generally say "Il n'y a pas de" regardless of what word follows (il n'y a pas de fruits sur la table).
2. "Il y a" will become "il y a eu" for there has been, "il y avait" for there were, "Il y aura" for there will be, and "Il y aurait" for there would be.

"Il y a" is used to express time in the past as "ago" or "it has been"

1. Il est arrivé en Australie il y a 5 ans. 
2. Il y a 5 ans qu'il est arrivé en Australie.

Note that "il y a" can be replace by " depuis or ça  fait...que, or voila! 

Common expressions using "il y a" include

1. Il y a du monde ici= It is crowded here
2. Il y a du soleil (de la pluie, des nuages, de l'orage, etc...)= It is sunny (rainy, cloudy, stormy, etc...)
3. Il n'y a pas de quoi! = It is ok, you are welcome.
4. Il y a de l'eau dans le gaz= Something is brewing
5. Qu'est ce qu'il y a? =what is the matter?

In informal speech "il y a" can be shorten to "y a"

1. Y a quoi a manger? = what is for diner, lunch, etc...?
2. Y a pas de mal! it is ok, I am fine (if someone says "excusez moi" after bumping into you.