ABSTRACT
Defining is the main function of articles. A difficulty for non-native speakers is selecting the right verb for a describing copula, as ser (esser is just another form of the verb) competes for this position with estar. Ideally, ser is used to connect the subject with a permanent quality describing it, and estar for temporal qualities. Some constructions admit both verbs, for example when a participle such as situat 'situated' can be inferred between the subject and place. The main existential construction (stating that something exists) in Catalan is haver-hi 'there is, are, etc.', used impersonally with an object. With definite people haver-hi can also be used. Only when such an object is placed before the verb as a result of focusing, it turns into a subject and haver-hi switches to ser-hi.
