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'Tener'

'Tener' means 'to have' in Spanish. This verb is irregular: the first person is irregular and it is also an stem changing verb (i>ie).

Uses of 'Tener'

As well as being the verb 'to have', 'tener' has a lot of other uses in Spanish.

Age

Age

  • In Spanish, rather than say 'I am 15 years old', you say 'I have 15 years.
    • ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?).
    • Tengo quince años. (I am 15).
Hungry or thirsty

Hungry or thirsty

  • Similarly to age, in Spanish instead of saying 'I am hungry' you would say 'I have hunger'.
    • Flora tiene hambre. (Flora is hungry).
    • Tengo sed. (I am thirsty).
To have to

To have to

  • In Spanish you use 'tener' + 'que' as a way to say 'something is necessary'.
    • Tengo que cerrar la ventana
      • I have to close the window.
  • 'Tener que' is always followed by an infinitive.
Jump to other topics
1

The Basics

2

Current & Future Study & Employment

2.1

School & Subjects

2.2

School & Subjects - Translations (Foundation)

2.3

School & Subjects - Translations (Higher)

2.4

Education Post - 16

2.5

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Foundation)

2.6

Education Post - 16 - Translations (Higher)

3

Identity & Culture

3.1

Me, My Family & Friends

3.2

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Foundation)

3.3

Me, Family & Friends - Translations (Higher)

3.4

Technology in Everyday Life

3.5

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Foundation)

3.6

Tech in Everyday Life - Translations (Higher)

3.7

Free Time Activities

3.8

Free Time Activities - Translations (Foundation)

3.9

Free Time Activities - Translations (Higher)

3.10

Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.11

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Foundation)

3.12

Customs & Festivals - Translations (Higher)

4

Areas of Interest

4.1

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2

Home & Region - Translations (Foundation)

4.3

Home & Region - Translations (Higher)

4.4

Social Issues

4.5

Social Issues - Translations (Foundation)

4.6

Social Issues - Translations (Higher)

4.7

Global Issues

4.8

Global Issues - Translations

4.9

Travel & Tourism

4.10

Travel & Tourism - Translations

5

Listening Practice

5.1

Time Expressions - Listening

5.2

Me, My Family & Friends - Listening

5.3

Technology in Everyday Life - Listening

5.4

Free-Time - Listening

5.5

Customs & Festivals - Listening

5.6

Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Listening

5.7

Social Issues - Listening

5.8

Travel & Tourism - Listening

5.9

Education - Listening

5.10

Food & Drink - Listening

5.11

In the Home - Listening

5.12

Colours - Listening

5.13

Clothes & Accesories - Listening

5.14

Measurements - Listening

5.15

Materials - Listening

6

Common Tenses

7

Important Verbs

8

Advanced Tenses

9

Extra Grammar

9.1

Articles

9.2

Negatives

9.3

Nouns

9.4

Asking Questions

9.5

Adjectives

9.6

Adverbs

9.7

Conjunctions

9.8

Pronouns

9.9

By, With, From, Of

9.10

Verbs

9.11

Comparisons

Practice questions on How to Use 'Tener'

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