Among the particularities that guide the verb "haver", there is one that stands out par excellence: the fact that it reveals itself as impersonal, in two specific cases. Look:
* When it has the sense of existing:
There are students in the room.
* When represented by the notion of elapsed time:
It's been two years since we met.
However, it is worth mentioning that there are still other details that are also attributed to the verb in question – these details relating to the tense in which it is expressed in the prayer. This fact reveals itself as quite relevant, as its occurrence is linked to both orality and writing – the latter being even more pertinent. Due to this reason, it becomes possible to our knowledge, given the importance of its correct use.
To do so, let us return to the second example, in which we detect that the verb "haver", now expressed in the present tense of the indicative (there is), it maintains the punctual aspect in which the action takes place, that is, the occurrence took place two years before the time of the enunciation. In this sense, it is noteworthy that the use of such placement is adequate, in view of the formal standard of language.
However, if we wanted to change the speech, it would be expressed something like this:
We hadn't met in two years.
What can be seen is that as the verb "have" is now demarcated by the imperfect tense of the indicative, it was it is also necessary that the verb "find" becomes flexible (adjusting itself to the verb "haver"), in the case manifested by "we found". But beware: the verb "haver" only inflects within the tense, as the person of the verb remains unchanged – expressed in the third person singular (as it should always be).
Thus, the attribution given to the verbal action is of a durative aspect – characteristic of the time in question (imperfect past tense), that is:
The action of not meeting lasted two years.
Through such elucidations, we can see the need to use the verb correctly, no matter in what circumstances of interlocution it manifests itself.
By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters
Brazil School Team
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Grammar - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "Verb there – minutiae in question"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/verbo-haver-minucias-questao.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
There is students preparing for the Math and Physics Olympiad.
a) In that tense situation, the boys behaved with great discretion and elegance.
b) All of them had lived through similar stressful situations before.
c) They knew that there should be punishment for those who broke the rules.
d) Even so, the adults were happy to recommend caution to everyone.