Existence with 'có' — Southern Vietnamese Grammar

The word is primarily known as the verb "to have" (indicating possession). However, it also serves a second, equally fundamental function: expressing existence. In this context, corresponds directly to the English structures "there is" or "there are".

Unlike English, which requires a dummy subject (the word "there"), Vietnamese simply uses followed immediately by the noun that exists.

General Existence

To state that something exists or is present without specifying a location, place at the beginning of the sentence.

Có một vấn đề.
There is a problem.
Có nhiều người.
There are many people.
Có khách.
There is a guest. / We have company.

Existence at a Location

When describing where something is, the sentence structure typically changes. In Vietnamese, the location is often placed at the start of the sentence to set the context, followed by , and finally the object.

Structure: Location + + Noun

This literally translates to "The location has the object," but it is the standard way to say "There is X in Y."

Trong tủ lạnh có trái cây.
There is fruit in the fridge.
Trên bàn có hai cái ly.
There are two glasses on the table.
Ở Sài Gòn có nhiều xe hơi.
There are many cars in Saigon.

Negative Existence (There is not)

To express that something does not exist or is not present, place the negative particle immediately before . The phrase means "there isn't" or "there aren't."

Không có gì.
There is nothing. / You're welcome.
Ở đây không có ai.
There isn't anyone here.
Hôm nay không có mưa.
There is no rain today.

Asking About Existence

To ask "Is there...?" or "Are there...?", use the standard question structure: + Noun + .

Có ai ở nhà không?
Is there anyone at home?
Gần đây có chợ không?
Is there a market near here?
Trong phòng có máy lạnh không?
Is there an air conditioner in the room?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Southern Vietnamese course

69 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 21. A few of them, with the words “Existence with 'có'” is about in bold:

Tôi có hai xe hơi, hai xe đạp và ba xe máy.
I have two cars, two bicycles, and three motorbikes.
Lesson 33
Cô ấy có một chiếc xe chậm chạp, rẻ tiền.
She has a slow, cheap car.
Lesson 110
Tôi có hai em gái và hai chị gái.
I have two younger sisters and two older sisters.
Lesson 138

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