Task 1
📍 There is / There are — "Tem" in English
Talking about Madrid and Valencia, you used "have" many times to say that something exists in a place: "have many places", "have a Expo in Madrid", "have others regulations". In Portuguese we say "tem" for everything — but in English, "have" is for possession (I have a car). To say that something exists in a place, we use there is / there are.
there is + singular
there are + plural
there isn't / there aren't
have ≠ there is
0/7 tasks
What came up in class
Real sentences from our conversation about Spain
❌
"Have many places for enjoy."✅
"There are many places to enjoy."❌
"In the city center have good food."✅
"In the city center, there is good food."❌
"It's one regulation, have others."✅
"It's one regulation. There are others."✅
"There are many bikes for transport." — you created this one yourself in class. Perfect!✅
"There are six weeks of vacation during the year." — also great, plural noun + "there are".💡 The golden rule"Tem" in Portuguese has two meanings. "Eu tenho um carro" = possession → I have a car. "Tem um carro na rua" = existence → There is a car on the street. If there's no person "owning" the thing, don't use "have".
Reference Table — There is / There are
Save this. You'll refer back to it.
| Form | Use with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| There is (There's) | 1 thing / uncountable | "There is a bus stop near the hotel." "There is good food in Valencia." |
| There are | 2+ things (plural) | "There are many tourists in Madrid." |
| There isn't | negative, singular | "There isn't a high-speed train in Brazil." |
| There aren't | negative, plural | "There aren't many cars in the city center." |
Portuguese → English: stop translating "tem" as "have"
| Portuguese | Don't say | Say |
|---|---|---|
| Tem muita gente na rua. | Have much people in the street. | There are many people on the street. |
| Tem uma feira em Madrid. | Have a Expo in Madrid. | There is an expo in Madrid. |
| Tem outras regulamentações. | Have others regulations. | There are other regulations. |
🗣️ Pronunciationthere sounds like "dér" — but put your tongue between your teeth for the TH. there's ≈ "dérz" · there are ≈ "dér ár". In fast speech, natives say "there's" all the time.
⚠️ Two bonus details from class• many people (not "much people") — people is plural.
• other regulations (not "others regulations") — adjectives never go plural in English.
• other regulations (not "others regulations") — adjectives never go plural in English.
- Read the tables and say every example out loud, paying attention to the TH in "there"
Fill in the Gap — There is or There are?
Look at the noun: singular or plural?
📝 Fill in the blank (there is / there are / there isn't / there aren't)
In Madrid,
many tourists all year.
📝 Fill in the blank
a small park near my hotel in Getafe.
📝 Fill in the blank
good food in Valencia — paella is amazing!
📝 Fill in the blank (negative)
Unfortunately,
any high-speed trains in Brazil.
📝 Fill in the blank
This test is for one regulation, but
other regulations to finish.
📝 Fill in the blank (negative)
a lot of parking in the city center — it's very expensive.
- Complete all 6 blanks above
"Tem" Detective — Spot the correct sentence
3 quick questions, based on our conversation
🎯 Question 1 of 3
Choose the correct sentence about Valencia.
🎯 Question 2 of 3
Choose the correct sentence about the streets of Madrid.
🎯 Question 3 of 3
Which sentence uses “have” correctly?
- Complete all 3 questions above
Translation — Portuguese → English
10 sentences. Every "tem" becomes "there is / there are"
Translate each sentence. Write your answer first — only then open "Show model answer" to compare. Don't worry if your version is a little different: what matters is there is / there are.
1Tem muitos turistas em Madrid.
Show model answer
There are many tourists in Madrid.2Tem um parque perto do meu hotel.
Show model answer
There is a park near my hotel.3Tem comida boa em Valência.
Show model answer
There is good food in Valencia.4Não tem trem de alta velocidade no Brasil.
Show model answer
There isn't a high-speed train in Brazil. (or: There are no high-speed trains in Brazil.)5Tem seis semanas de férias por ano na Espanha.
Show model answer
There are six weeks of vacation per year in Spain.6Tem muitas bicicletas nas ruas de Valência.
Show model answer
There are many bikes on the streets of Valencia.7Tem um ônibus novo na área de testes.
Show model answer
There is a new bus in the test area.8Não tem muitos carros no centro da cidade.
Show model answer
There aren't many cars in the city center.9Tem três testes nesta semana.
Show model answer
There are three tests this week.10Tem uma diferença de cinco horas entre o Brasil e a Espanha.
Show model answer
There is a five-hour difference between Brazil and Spain. (or: There is a time difference of five hours…)- Translate all 10 sentences before looking at the model answers
- Compare with the model answers and fix any "have" you used
- Send your translations to Teacher Vitor using the button above
Writing — Spain vs. Brazil
Describe what exists there and what exists here
Write 5 sentences comparing Spain (Madrid, Getafe, Valencia, Barcelona…) with Brazil. Use there is, there are and at least one negative (there isn't / there aren't). Zero "have" for existence!
- Write your 5 sentences and send them to Teacher Vitor
Task 2
⏪ There was / There were — "Tinha" in English
At the end of class we moved to the past: "When I went to Barcelona, there were many tourists." You then created great sentences about your hotel in Getafe: "There was a small shopping center", "There was a bus stop", "There was a little park". Now let's make this automatic — every time you think "tinha" (= existia), say there was / there were.
there was + singular
there were + plural
there wasn't / there weren't
tinha ≠ had
0/7 tasks
What came up talking about your hotel
Real moments from class
❌
"I have a Expo in Madrid." (talking about the past)✅
"There was an expo in Madrid." — past + existence → there was. And "an" before a vowel sound: an expo.❌
"In all cities, there's… was security." — you hesitated between present and past.✅
"In all the cities, there was good public security."✅
"There were many public spaces and parks." — plural → there were. Great!✅
"There was a small shopping center / a bus stop / a little park." — singular → there was. Perfect!💡 Vocabulary from classbus stop = parada de ônibus · bus station = rodoviária · highway = rodovia · shopping center / mall = shopping
Reference Table — Present vs. Past
Save this. You'll refer back to it.
| Present (tem) | Past (tinha / teve / havia) | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular + | There is | There was |
| Plural + | There are | There were |
| Singular − | There isn't | There wasn't |
| Plural − | There aren't | There weren't |
Examples from your trip
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| Tinha muitos turistas em Barcelona. | "There were many tourists in Barcelona." |
| Tinha uma parada de ônibus perto do hotel. | "There was a bus stop near the hotel." |
| Teve uma feira de ônibus em Madrid. | "There was a bus expo in Madrid." |
| Não tinha muito trânsito. | "There wasn't much traffic." |
| Houve alguns ajustes no pré-teste. | "There were some adjustments in the pre-test." |
🗣️ Pronunciationthere was ≈ "dér uóz" (in fast speech: "dér uâz") · there were ≈ "dér uêr" · wasn't ≈ "uózânt" · weren't ≈ "uêrnt"
⚠️ Careful with "tinha""Eu tinha um carro" = possession → I had a car. "Tinha um carro na rua" = existence → There was a car on the street. Same logic as Task 1!
- Read the tables and say every example out loud
Fill in the Gap — There was or There were?
Your trip to Spain, in the past
📝 Fill in the blank (there was / there were / there wasn't / there weren't)
When I went to Barcelona,
many tourists.
📝 Fill in the blank
a bus expo in Madrid during my trip.
📝 Fill in the blank
In the pre-test,
some small adjustments to make.
📝 Fill in the blank (negative)
a supermarket near my hotel, only a small shopping center.
📝 Fill in the blank
In Valencia,
signs in Spanish and in Valencian.
📝 Fill in the blank (negative)
The final test was approved —
any problems.
- Complete all 6 blanks above
Past Detective — Spot the correct sentence
3 quick questions, based on our conversation
🎯 Question 1 of 3
Choose the correct sentence about the parks in Madrid.
🎯 Question 2 of 3
Choose the correct sentence about the expo.
🎯 Question 3 of 3
Your hotel was near the highway. What was in front of it?
- Complete all 3 questions above
Translation — Portuguese → English
10 sentences. "Tinha / teve / houve" becomes "there was / there were"
Translate each sentence. Write your answer first — only then open "Show model answer" to compare.
1Tinha muitos turistas em Barcelona.
Show model answer
There were many tourists in Barcelona.2Tinha um pequeno shopping perto do meu hotel.
Show model answer
There was a small shopping center near my hotel.3Teve uma feira de ônibus em Madrid.
Show model answer
There was a bus expo in Madrid.4Não tinha supermercado perto do hotel.
Show model answer
There wasn't a supermarket near the hotel.5Tinha muitas pessoas nos parques às 10 da noite.
Show model answer
There were many people in the parks at 10 p.m.6Tinha uma parada de ônibus em frente ao hotel.
Show model answer
There was a bus stop in front of the hotel.7Houve alguns ajustes no pré-teste.
Show model answer
There were some adjustments in the pre-test.8Não tinha muito trânsito na rodovia.
Show model answer
There wasn't much traffic on the highway.9Tinha placas em espanhol e em valenciano.
Show model answer
There were signs in Spanish and in Valencian.10Não teve nenhum problema no teste final.
Show model answer
There weren't any problems in the final test. (or: There were no problems in the final test.)- Translate all 10 sentences before looking at the model answers
- Compare with the model answers — check singular (was) vs. plural (were)
- Send your translations to Teacher Vitor using the button above
Writing — My Neighborhood in Getafe
Describe the place where you stayed in Spain
Write 5–6 sentences describing the area around your hotel and the cities you visited. Use there was, there were and at least one negative (there wasn't / there weren't).
- Write your description and send it to Teacher Vitor
Task 3
❓ Asking Questions — Is there…? Were there…?
In class I asked you: "What was there near your hotel? Were there supermarkets, pharmacies?" Questions like these are essential with foreign colleagues — at a test site, a hotel, an expo. The trick is simple: flip the order. "There is" → "Is there…?" · "There were" → "Were there…?"
Is there / Are there…?
Was there / Were there…?
How many… are there?
short answers
0/7 tasks
How Portuguese tricks us in questions
In Portuguese, only the intonation changes. In English, the word order changes.
❌
"Have a supermarket near here?" — direct translation of "Tem um supermercado aqui perto?"❌
"There is a supermarket near here?" — correct words, wrong order✅
"Is there a supermarket near here?"❌
"Had many tourists in Valencia?"✅
"Were there many tourists in Valencia?"💡 The golden ruleStatement: There + is/are/was/were. Question: Is/Are/Was/Were + there. Just swap the two words — no "do", no "did"!
Reference Table — Questions & Short Answers
Save this. You'll refer back to it.
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Is there a bus stop near here? | Yes, there is. | No, there isn't. |
| Are there any trains to Valencia? | Yes, there are. | No, there aren't. |
| Was there a problem in the test? | Yes, there was. | No, there wasn't. |
| Were there many people at the expo? | Yes, there were. | No, there weren't. |
Open questions (with a question word)
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| How many + plural + are there? | "How many regulations are there?" |
| How many + plural + were there? | "How many people were there at the expo?" |
| What + is there + place? | "What is there to do in Valencia?" |
| What + was there + place? | "What was there near your hotel?" |
🗣️ PronunciationYes/no questions go up at the end ↗: "Is there a bus stop near here? ↗". Questions with "How many / What" go down ↘: "How many tests are there? ↘"
🔧 Useful at work"Are there any problems with the brakes?" · "Was there any noise during the test?" · "Is there another test in December?" — use any in questions with plural or uncountable nouns.
- Read the tables and practice the intonation out loud (↗ yes/no, ↘ how many / what)
Fill in the Gap — Build the Question
Present or past? Singular or plural?
📝 Fill in the blank (Is there / Are there / Was there / Were there)
a pharmacy near your hotel?
📝 Fill in the blank
many tourists in Barcelona last month?
📝 Fill in the blank
How many regulations
for the European market?
📝 Fill in the blank
a problem during the final test?
📝 Short answer (positive)
— Were there any high-speed trains to Valencia? — Yes,
.
📝 Short answer (negative)
— Is there a train from Florianópolis to Caxias? — No,
.
- Complete all 6 blanks above
Question Detective — Spot the correct question
3 quick questions, work and travel situations
🎯 Question 1 of 3
You arrive at the hotel and want to know about transport. What do you ask?
🎯 Question 2 of 3
A foreign engineer asks about yesterday's test. Which question is correct?
🎯 Question 3 of 3
You want to know the number of people at the Bus Expo. What do you ask?
- Complete all 3 questions above
Translation — Portuguese → English
10 questions. Remember: swap the order!
Translate each question. Write your answer first — only then open "Show model answer" to compare.
1Tem um supermercado perto do seu hotel?
Show model answer
Is there a supermarket near your hotel?2Tem trens de alta velocidade no Brasil?
Show model answer
Are there (any) high-speed trains in Brazil?3Tinha muitos turistas em Valência?
Show model answer
Were there many tourists in Valencia?4Teve algum problema no teste?
Show model answer
Was there a problem in the test? (or: Were there any problems in the test?)5Quantas regulamentações tem?
Show model answer
How many regulations are there?6O que tinha perto do seu hotel?
Show model answer
What was there near your hotel?7Tem alguma parada de ônibus aqui perto?
Show model answer
Is there a bus stop near here?8Quantas pessoas tinha na feira?
Show model answer
How many people were there at the expo?9Tem outro teste em dezembro?
Show model answer
Is there another test in December?10O que tem para fazer em Madrid?
Show model answer
What is there to do in Madrid?- Translate all 10 questions before looking at the model answers
- Compare with the model answers — check the word order (Is there / Were there…)
- Send your translations to Teacher Vitor using the button above
Writing — Interview a Foreign Colleague
Questions + short answers in a real work situation
Imagine a Spanish engineer is coming to test a bus with you in Caxias. Write 5 questions you could ask them (or they could ask you) about the city, the hotel or the test — and answer each one with a short answer. Use at least one of each: Is there / Are there / Was there / Were there / How many… are there?
- Write your 5 questions + answers and send them to Teacher Vitor
📄 Complete Study Plan
Download your full study plan as a PDF
This downloads the complete document — all 3 tasks together, with your checked boxes, quiz answers, translations and writing exactly as you filled them in.