Mastering ‘Tener’: The Spanish Verb “To Have”

Understanding the Spanish verb tener (to have) is crucial for effective communication in Spanish. It’s not just about possession; tener expresses age, feelings, obligations, and much more. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of tener, covering its conjugations, uses, common expressions, and potential pitfalls. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, mastering tener will significantly enhance your Spanish proficiency.

This article will benefit anyone learning Spanish, from students in their first year to those aiming for fluency. By breaking down the complexities of tener into manageable sections, we aim to provide a clear and practical resource that you can refer to throughout your language learning journey. Get ready to delve into the world of tener and unlock its full potential!

Table of Contents

• Definition of Tener
• Conjugation of Tener
  • Present Indicative
  • Preterite Indicative
  • Imperfect Indicative
  • Future Indicative
  • Conditional Indicative
  • Present Subjunctive
  • Imperfect Subjunctive
  • Future Subjunctive (Rare)
  • Imperative
• Uses of Tener
  • Expressing Possession
  • Expressing Age
  • Expressing Obligations
  • Expressing Feelings
  • Expressing Physical Sensations
  • Fixed Expressions with Tener
• Examples of Tener in Sentences
• Usage Rules for Tener
• Common Mistakes with Tener
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics with Tener
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Tener

The Spanish verb tener primarily translates to “to have” in English. However, its usage extends far beyond simple possession. Tener is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation patterns deviate from the standard rules. It’s a transitive verb, typically requiring a direct object (what is being had). Understanding its various uses is essential for mastering Spanish grammar.

Beyond possession, tener is used to express age, obligations, feelings, and certain physical sensations. It also appears in numerous idiomatic expressions, making it one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in the Spanish language. Its versatility means that a direct translation of “to have” isn’t always accurate, and understanding the context is crucial for proper interpretation.

In summary, tener is more than just “to have.” It’s a cornerstone of Spanish grammar, expressing a wide range of concepts and playing a crucial role in everyday communication. From stating your age to expressing hunger, tener is an indispensable part of your Spanish vocabulary.

Conjugation of Tener

Tener is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation patterns do not follow the standard rules. Mastering its conjugations is crucial for using it correctly in different tenses and moods.

Present Indicative

The present indicative tense is used to describe actions happening now or habitual actions. The conjugation of tener in the present indicative is as follows:

• Yo tengo (I have)
• Tú tienes (You have – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tiene (He/She/You have – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tenemos (We have)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tenéis (You have – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tienen (They/You have – formal plural)

Note the irregularity in the first person singular (yo tengo). This is a key characteristic of tener and must be memorized.

Preterite Indicative

The preterite indicative tense is used to describe completed actions in the past. The conjugation of tener in the preterite indicative is:

• Yo tuve (I had)
• Tú tuviste (You had – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tuvo (He/She/You had – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tuvimos (We had)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tuvisteis (You had – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tuvieron (They/You had – formal plural)

The stem change from “tener” to “tuv-” is important to remember for the preterite tense.

Imperfect Indicative

The imperfect indicative tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. The conjugation of tener in the imperfect indicative is:

• Yo tenía (I used to have/I was having)
• Tú tenías (You used to have/You were having – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tenía (He/She/You used to have/He/She/You were having – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras teníamos (We used to have/We were having)
• Vosotros/Vosotras teníais (You used to have/You were having – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tenían (They/You used to have/They/You were having – formal plural)

The imperfect tense of tener is relatively regular and easy to remember.

Future Indicative

The future indicative tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future. The conjugation of tener in the future indicative is:

• Yo tendré (I will have)
• Tú tendrás (You will have – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tendrá (He/She/You will have – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tendremos (We will have)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tendréis (You will have – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tendrán (They/You will have – formal plural)

Note the stem change to “tendr-” in the future tense. This is consistent across all future tense conjugations in Spanish.

Conditional Indicative

The conditional indicative tense is used to describe actions that would happen under certain conditions. The conjugation of tener in the conditional indicative is:

• Yo tendría (I would have)
• Tú tendrías (You would have – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tendría (He/She/You would have – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tendríamos (We would have)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tendríais (You would have – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tendrían (They/You would have – formal plural)

The stem change to “tendr-” is consistent with the future tense, and the endings are the same as the imperfect tense of -er/-ir verbs.

Present Subjunctive

The present subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, wishes, or emotions. The conjugation of tener in the present subjunctive is:

• Yo tenga (That I have)
• Tú tengas (That you have – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tenga (That he/she/you have – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tengamos (That we have)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tengáis (That you have – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tengan (That they/you have – formal plural)

The irregularity “teng-” is present throughout the subjunctive mood.

Imperfect Subjunctive

The imperfect subjunctive mood is used to express past doubt, uncertainty, wishes, or emotions. There are two possible conjugations for the imperfect subjunctive:

Option 1:

• Yo tuviera (That I had)
• Tú tuvieras (That you had – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tuviera (That he/she/you had – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tuviéramos (That we had)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tuvierais (That you had – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tuvieran (That they/you had – formal plural)

Option 2:

• Yo tuviese (That I had)
• Tú tuvieses (That you had – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tuviese (That he/she/you had – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tuviésemos (That we had)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tuvieseis (That you had – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tuviesen (That they/you had – formal plural)

Both forms are equally correct, although the “-ra” form is more commonly used in modern Spanish.

Future Subjunctive (Rare)

The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish. It’s primarily found in legal or formal documents.

The conjugation is:

• Yo tuviere (That I will have)
• Tú tuvieres (That you will have – informal)
• Él/Ella/Usted tuviere (That he/she/you will have – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tuviéremos (That we will have)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tuviereis (That you will have – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes tuvieren (That they/you will have – formal plural)

While understanding this tense is helpful, actively using it is not necessary for most Spanish learners.

Imperative

The imperative mood is used to give commands or instructions. The imperative forms of tener are:

• Tú ten (Have – informal)
• Usted tenga (Have – formal)
• Nosotros/Nosotras tengamos (Let’s have)
• Vosotros/Vosotras tened (Have – informal plural, Spain only)
• Ustedes tengan (Have – formal plural)

Note the irregularities in the informal singular (ten) and the formal singular (tenga) forms.

Uses of Tener

Tener has several key uses beyond simply expressing possession. Understanding these various applications is critical for fluency.

Expressing Possession

The most basic use of tener is to indicate ownership or possession. This is the most direct translation of “to have.”

Example: Yo tengo un coche. (I have a car.)

Expressing Age

In Spanish, age is expressed using tener, not ser (to be). You literally “have” years.

Example: Ella tiene veinte años. (She is twenty years old.)

Expressing Obligations

Tener que + infinitive is used to express obligation or necessity.

Example: Tenemos que estudiar para el examen. (We have to study for the exam.)

Expressing Feelings

Certain feelings are expressed using tener, rather than ser or estar.

Example: Tengo miedo. (I am afraid.)

Expressing Physical Sensations

Similar to feelings, some physical sensations are expressed using tener.

Example: Tengo hambre. (I am hungry.)

Fixed Expressions with Tener

Tener appears in many idiomatic expressions that don’t directly translate to “to have.” Learning these expressions is crucial for understanding natural Spanish.

Example: Tener razón. (To be right.)

Examples of Tener in Sentences

To solidify your understanding of tener, here are several examples categorized by its different uses.

The following table illustrates the use of “tener” to express possession. Note the variety of subjects and objects used.

Spanish Sentence	English Translation
Yo tengo un libro.	I have a book.
Tú tienes una bicicleta.	You have a bicycle.
Él tiene un perro.	He has a dog.
Ella tiene una casa.	She has a house.
Usted tiene un coche.	You have a car (formal).
Nosotros tenemos un jardín.	We have a garden.
Vosotros tenéis una idea.	You have an idea (Spain).
Ellos tienen un problema.	They have a problem.
Ellas tienen una solución.	They have a solution.
Ustedes tienen una oportunidad.	You have an opportunity (formal).
Mi hermana tiene un gato.	My sister has a cat.
Mis padres tienen mucho dinero.	My parents have a lot of money.
El restaurante tiene una buena reputación.	The restaurant has a good reputation.
La empresa tiene muchos empleados.	The company has many employees.
El museo tiene muchas obras de arte.	The museum has many works of art.
El hotel tiene una piscina.	The hotel has a swimming pool.
El banco tiene muchas sucursales.	The bank has many branches.
El país tiene muchos recursos naturales.	The country has many natural resources.
La ciudad tiene muchos parques.	The city has many parks.
El equipo tiene muchos jugadores talentosos.	The team has many talented players.
El libro tiene muchas páginas.	The book has many pages.
La película tiene muchos efectos especiales.	The movie has many special effects.
La canción tiene un ritmo pegadizo.	The song has a catchy rhythm.
El edificio tiene una vista impresionante.	The building has an impressive view.

This table demonstrates the usage of “tener” to express age. Notice how “años” (years) is always included.

Spanish Sentence	English Translation
Yo tengo treinta años.	I am thirty years old.
Tú tienes quince años.	You are fifteen years old.
Él tiene cincuenta años.	He is fifty years old.
Ella tiene diez años.	She is ten years old.
Usted tiene sesenta años.	You are sixty years old (formal).
Nosotros tenemos veinte años.	We are twenty years old.
Vosotros tenéis veinticinco años.	You are twenty-five years old (Spain).
Ellos tienen cuarenta años.	They are forty years old.
Ellas tienen treinta y cinco años.	They are thirty-five years old.
Ustedes tienen setenta años.	You are seventy years old (formal).
Mi abuelo tiene ochenta años.	My grandfather is eighty years old.
Mi hija tiene dos años.	My daughter is two years old.
Mi hijo tiene cinco años.	My son is five years old.
Mi vecina tiene noventa años.	My neighbor is ninety years old.
El profesor tiene cuarenta y cinco años.	The professor is forty-five years old.
La actriz tiene treinta y ocho años.	The actress is thirty-eight years old.
El cantante tiene veintidós años.	The singer is twenty-two years old.
El atleta tiene veintiocho años.	The athlete is twenty-eight years old.
La bailarina tiene diecinueve años.	The dancer is nineteen years old.
El político tiene cincuenta y cinco años.	The politician is fifty-five years old.
La doctora tiene treinta y dos años.	The doctor is thirty-two years old.
El ingeniero tiene cuarenta y ocho años.	The engineer is forty-eight years old.
La escritora tiene sesenta y dos años.	The writer is sixty-two years old.
El artista tiene setenta y cinco años.	The artist is seventy-five years old.
El músico tiene ochenta y dos años.	The musician is eighty-two years old.

The following table showcases “tener que” + infinitive to express obligation. Consider the different contexts and verbs used.

Spanish Sentence	English Translation
Yo tengo que trabajar.	I have to work.
Tú tienes que estudiar.	You have to study.
Él tiene que comer.	He has to eat.
Ella tiene que dormir.	She has to sleep.
Usted tiene que esperar.	You have to wait (formal).
Nosotros tenemos que limpiar.	We have to clean.
Vosotros tenéis que aprender.	You have to learn (Spain).
Ellos tienen que salir.	They have to leave.
Ellas tienen que volver.	They have to return.
Ustedes tienen que escuchar.	You have to listen (formal).
Tenemos que pagar las cuentas.	We have to pay the bills.
Tienes que hacer la tarea.	You have to do the homework.
Tengo que ir al supermercado.	I have to go to the supermarket.
Tiene que llamar al médico.	He/She has to call the doctor.
Tenemos que reservar un hotel.	We have to book a hotel.
Tenéis que comprar regalos.	You have to buy gifts (Spain).
Tienen que hablar con el jefe.	They have to talk to the boss.
Tenemos que tomar una decisión.	We have to make a decision.
Tengo que terminar este proyecto.	I have to finish this project.
Tienes que ser más paciente.	You have to be more patient.
Tenemos que encontrar una solución.	We have to find a solution.
Tengo que levantarme temprano.	I have to get up early.
Tienes que acostarte temprano.	You have to go to bed early.
Tenemos que cuidar el planeta.	We have to take care of the planet.
Tengo que aprender español.	I have to learn Spanish.

This table provides examples of “tener” used to express feelings and physical sensations. Note the specific nouns that follow “tener.”

Spanish Sentence	English Translation
Tengo hambre.	I am hungry.
Tengo sed.	I am thirsty.
Tengo miedo.	I am afraid.
Tengo sueño.	I am sleepy.
Tengo calor.	I am hot.
Tengo frío.	I am cold.
Tengo prisa.	I am in a hurry.
Tengo razón.	I am right.
Tengo suerte.	I am lucky.
Tengo dolor de cabeza.	I have a headache.
Tengo ganas de bailar.	I feel like dancing.
Tengo confianza.	I have confidence.
Tengo celos.	I am jealous.
Tengo vergüenza.	I am ashamed.
Tengo curiosidad.	I am curious.
Tengo paciencia.	I have patience.
Tengo esperanza.	I have hope.
Tengo éxito.	I am successful.
Tengo cuidado.	I am careful.
Tengo una idea.	I have an idea.
Tengo una pregunta.	I have a question.
Tengo dolor de estómago.	I have a stomach ache.
Tengo dolor de espalda.	I have a back ache.
Tengo tos.	I have a cough.
Tengo fiebre.	I have a fever.
Tengo escalofríos.	I have chills.

This table presents common fixed expressions using “tener.” It is important to memorize these as they are frequently used in everyday conversation.

Spanish Expression	English Translation
Tener razón	To be right
Tener cuidado	To be careful
Tener éxito	To be successful
Tener lugar	To take place
Tener en cuenta	To take into account
Tener que ver con	To have to do with
Tener ganas de	To feel like
Tener presente	To keep in mind
Tener por seguro	To be sure
Tener la culpa	To be to blame
Tener buena pinta	To look good (appearance)
Tener mala pinta	To look bad (appearance)
Tener un buen día	To have a good day
Tener un mal día	To have a bad day
Tener mucho en común	To have a lot in common
Tener algo en mente	To have something in mind
Tener la palabra	To have the floor (speaking)
Tener un ataque	To have an attack
Tener una cita	To have a date/appointment
Tener una entrevista	To have an interview
Tener una idea clara	To have a clear idea
Tener una opinión	To have an opinion
Tener una visión	To have a vision

Usage Rules for Tener

Proper usage of tener involves understanding its grammatical context and the specific expressions it forms. Here are some key rules to keep in mind:

• Age: Always use tener to express age, followed by the number of years and the word años.
• Obligation: Use tener que + infinitive to express obligation.
• Feelings and Sensations: Remember that certain feelings and sensations are expressed with tener, not ser or estar.
• Agreement: The verb tener must agree in number and person with the subject of the sentence.
• Reflexive Pronouns: Be careful not to confuse tener with reflexive verbs. While some expressions involve reflexive pronouns, tener itself is not a reflexive verb.

One common exception to watch out for involves expressing “to be hot/cold.” While ser is generally used for inherent characteristics, tener calor/frío refers to a temporary sensation.

Common Mistakes with Tener

Several common mistakes can occur when using tener. Being aware of these errors can help you avoid them.

Incorrect: Yo soy hambre.
Correct: Yo tengo hambre. (I am hungry.)

Incorrect: Ella es veinte años.
Correct: Ella tiene veinte años. (She is twenty years old.)

Incorrect: Nosotros estamos que estudiar.
Correct: Nosotros tenemos que estudiar. (We have to study.)

Another common mistake is using “hacer” instead of “tener” in certain expressions.

Incorrect: Hace calor. (This means: It makes heat.)
Correct: Tengo calor. (I am hot.)

Remember to use the correct conjugation of tener. A common error is using the wrong form, especially with irregular conjugations like the present subjunctive.

Incorrect: Es importante que tú tiene cuidado.
Correct: Es importante que tú tengas cuidado. (It’s important that you are careful.)

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding of tener with these practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of tener in the present indicative.

1. Yo _______ un perro.
2. Tú _______ una bicicleta nueva.
3. Él _______ mucha suerte.
4. Nosotros _______ que estudiar.
5. Vosotros _______ muchos amigos (Spain).
6. Ellos _______ frío.
7. ¿Usted _______ tiempo para hablar? (formal)
8. María _______ veinte años.
9. Mis padres _______ un coche nuevo.
10. ¿ _______ tú hermanos?

Answer Key:

1. tengo
2. tienes
3. tiene
4. tenemos
5. tenéis
6. tienen
7. Tiene
8. tiene
9. tienen
10. Tienes

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Spanish using tener.

1. I am hungry.
2. She is thirty years old.
3. We have to work.
4. You are right.
5. They have a house.
6. He is cold.
7. I have a question.
8. You (formal) have to wait.
9. We are lucky.
10. She feels like dancing.

Answer Key:

1. Tengo hambre.
2. Ella tiene treinta años.
3. Tenemos que trabajar.
4. Tienes razón.
5. Ellos tienen una casa.
6. Él tiene frío.
7. Tengo una pregunta.
8. Usted tiene que esperar.
9. Tenemos suerte.
10. Ella tiene ganas de bailar.

Exercise 3: Choose the correct sentence.

1. a) Yo soy sed. b) Yo tengo sed.
2. a) Él tiene que comer. b) Él es que comer.
3. a) Nosotros tenemos calor. b) Nosotros somos calor.
4. a) ¿Tú tienes prisa? b) ¿Tú eres prisa?
5. a) Ella tiene ochenta años. b) Ella es ochenta años.
6. a) Ellos están razón. b) Ellos tienen razón.
7. a) Usted tiene cuidado. b) Usted es cuidado.

8. a) Nosotros tenemos un problema. b) Nosotros somos un problema.

9. a) Yo tengo ganas de cantar. b) Yo soy ganas de cantar.
10. a) ¿Tú tienes miedo? b) ¿Tú estás miedo?

Answer Key:

1. b) Yo tengo sed.
2. a) Él tiene que comer.
3. a) Nosotros tenemos calor.
4. a) ¿Tú tienes prisa?
5. a) Ella tiene ochenta años.
6. b) Ellos tienen razón.
7. a) Usted tiene cuidado.
8. a) Nosotros tenemos un problema.
9. a) Yo tengo ganas de cantar.
10. a) ¿Tú tienes miedo?

Advanced Topics with Tener

For advanced learners, exploring more nuanced uses of tener can further refine your understanding of Spanish.

• Tener + Past Participle: This construction is used to indicate that someone has had something done to them.

  Example: Tengo la casa pintada. (I have the house painted.)

• Subjunctive with Tener Que: In certain contexts, the verb following tener que may be in the subjunctive mood. This typically occurs when expressing doubt or uncertainty.

  Example: No creo que tenga que ir. (I don’t think I have to go.)

• Regional Variations: While the core uses of tener are consistent across Spanish-speaking regions, some idiomatic expressions may vary.

Understanding these advanced topics will allow you to use tener with greater precision and confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Mastering tener is a fundamental step in achieving fluency in Spanish. By understanding its conjugations, various uses, and common expressions, you can significantly improve your ability to communicate effectively in Spanish. Remember to practice regularly and pay attention to the context in which tener is used. With dedication and effort, you’ll be able to wield this versatile verb with confidence and precision.