9.3.2
Phrases Using 'Tener'
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
Phrases Using 'Tener'
'Tener' is used to create certain expressions and phrases. There are 12 that you need to know.

Tener lugar - to take place
- La historia tiene lugar en el siglo XVIII.
- The story takes place in the 18th century.

Tener que - to have to
- Tengo que hacer mis deberes.
- I have to do my homework.
Tener razón - to be right
- Tengo que admitir que tienes razón.
- I have to admit that you are right.

Tener prisa - to be in a hurry
- Ellos parecen tener prisa.
- They seem to be in a hurry.

Tener calor/frío - to be hot/cold
- Tenemos frío.
- We are cold.
- Tiene calor.
- She is hot.
Phrases Using 'Tener' 2
'Tener' is used to create certain expressions and phrases. There are 12 that you need to know.

Tener hambre/sed - to be hungry/thirsty
- Los niños tienen hambre.
- The children are hungry.
- Mi hermana tiene sed.
- My sister is thirsty.

Tener suerte - to be lucky
- Se puede tener suerte y ganar la lotería.
- One might be lucky and win the lottery.

Tener dolor (de) - to have a pain (in)
- Tengo dolor de cabeza.
- I have a headache.

Tener miedo - to be afraid
- ¿Por qué tenéis miedo?
- Why are you afraid?

Tener ganas de - to feel like, to want
- Tengo ganas de aprender español.
- I want to learn Spanish.
1The Basics
1.1Pronouns
1.2Verbs
1.3Nouns
1.4Adjectives
1.5Abbreviations
2Home & Abroad
2.2Holiday
2.4Everyday Life, Traditions & Communities
3Education & Employment
3.2School Trips
3.4Future Plans
4Personal Life & Relationships
4.1House & Home
4.2Daily Routines & Helping at Home
4.3Family & Friends
5The World Around Us
5.1Environmental Issues
5.2Weather
5.3Travel & Transport
5.5Information & Communication
6Social Activities, Fitness & Health
6.1Special Occasions
6.2Hobbies & Interests
6.3Shopping & Money Matters
6.4Injuries, Illness & Health
7Listening
7.1Town & Region
7.2Holiday
7.3Customs
7.4Education
7.5Personal Life & Relationships
7.6The Media & Technology
7.7Social Activities
7.8The Environment
7.9Fitness & Health
8Common Tenses
8.1Present Tense
8.1.1Regular AR Verbs8.1.2Negative Verbs8.1.3Irregular AR Verbs8.1.4Irregular AR Verbs: Exceptions8.1.5Regular ER Verbs8.1.6Irregular ER Verbs8.1.7Irregular ER Verbs 28.1.8Regular IR Verbs8.1.9Irregular IR Verbs8.1.10Irregular IR Verbs 28.1.11Irregular IR Verbs 38.1.12Irregular IR Verbs 48.1.13Verb Phrases8.1.14The Use of 'Se'
8.2Preterite Tense
8.2.1Regular AR Verbs8.2.2Irregular AR Verbs (1/4)8.2.3Irregular AR Verbs (2/4)8.2.4Irregular AR Verbs (3/4)8.2.5Irregular AR Verbs (4/4)8.2.6Regular ER Verbs8.2.7Irregular ER Verbs (1/5)8.2.8Irregular ER Verbs (2/5)8.2.9Irregular ER Verbs (3/5)8.2.10Irregular ER Verbs (4/5)8.2.11Irregular ER Verbs (5/5)8.2.12Regular IR Verbs8.2.13Irregular IR Verbs (1/6)8.2.14Irregular IR Verbs (2/6)8.2.15Irregular IR Verbs (3/6)8.2.16Irregular IR Verbs (4/6)8.2.17Irregular IR Verbs (5/6)8.2.18Irregular IR Verbs (6/6)
8.3Imperfect Tense
8.4Preterite vs Imperfect Tenses
8.5Future Tense
9Important Verbs
9.1To Be - 'Ser' & 'Estar'
9.2To Like - 'Gustar'
9.3To Have - 'Tener'
10Advanced Tenses
10.1The Simple Future
10.2Conditional Tense
10.3Continuous Tenses
10.4Perfect Tense
10.5Present Subjunctive
10.5.1Present Subjunctive: AR Verbs10.5.2Present Subjunctive: ER Verbs10.5.3Present Subjunctive: IR Verbs10.5.4Irregular AR Verbs (1/3)10.5.5Irregular AR Verbs (2/3)10.5.6Irregular AR Verbs (3/3)10.5.7Irregular ER Verbs (1/2)10.5.8Irregular ER Verbs (2/2)10.5.9Irregular IR Verbs (1/3)10.5.10Irregular IR Verbs (2/3)10.5.11Irregular IR Verbs (3/3)10.5.12The Verb 'Ir'10.5.13Subjunctive Uses
10.6Imperfect Subjunctive
11Extra Grammar
11.2Negatives
11.3Nouns
11.4Asking Questions
11.5Adjectives
11.6Adverbs
11.7Conjunctions
11.8Pronouns
11.9By, With, From, Of
11.10Verbs
11.11Comparisons
Jump to other topics
1The Basics
1.1Pronouns
1.2Verbs
1.3Nouns
1.4Adjectives
1.5Abbreviations
2Home & Abroad
2.2Holiday
2.4Everyday Life, Traditions & Communities
3Education & Employment
3.2School Trips
3.4Future Plans
4Personal Life & Relationships
4.1House & Home
4.2Daily Routines & Helping at Home
4.3Family & Friends
5The World Around Us
5.1Environmental Issues
5.2Weather
5.3Travel & Transport
5.5Information & Communication
6Social Activities, Fitness & Health
6.1Special Occasions
6.2Hobbies & Interests
6.3Shopping & Money Matters
6.4Injuries, Illness & Health
7Listening
7.1Town & Region
7.2Holiday
7.3Customs
7.4Education
7.5Personal Life & Relationships
7.6The Media & Technology
7.7Social Activities
7.8The Environment
7.9Fitness & Health
8Common Tenses
8.1Present Tense
8.1.1Regular AR Verbs8.1.2Negative Verbs8.1.3Irregular AR Verbs8.1.4Irregular AR Verbs: Exceptions8.1.5Regular ER Verbs8.1.6Irregular ER Verbs8.1.7Irregular ER Verbs 28.1.8Regular IR Verbs8.1.9Irregular IR Verbs8.1.10Irregular IR Verbs 28.1.11Irregular IR Verbs 38.1.12Irregular IR Verbs 48.1.13Verb Phrases8.1.14The Use of 'Se'
8.2Preterite Tense
8.2.1Regular AR Verbs8.2.2Irregular AR Verbs (1/4)8.2.3Irregular AR Verbs (2/4)8.2.4Irregular AR Verbs (3/4)8.2.5Irregular AR Verbs (4/4)8.2.6Regular ER Verbs8.2.7Irregular ER Verbs (1/5)8.2.8Irregular ER Verbs (2/5)8.2.9Irregular ER Verbs (3/5)8.2.10Irregular ER Verbs (4/5)8.2.11Irregular ER Verbs (5/5)8.2.12Regular IR Verbs8.2.13Irregular IR Verbs (1/6)8.2.14Irregular IR Verbs (2/6)8.2.15Irregular IR Verbs (3/6)8.2.16Irregular IR Verbs (4/6)8.2.17Irregular IR Verbs (5/6)8.2.18Irregular IR Verbs (6/6)
8.3Imperfect Tense
8.4Preterite vs Imperfect Tenses
8.5Future Tense
9Important Verbs
9.1To Be - 'Ser' & 'Estar'
9.2To Like - 'Gustar'
9.3To Have - 'Tener'
10Advanced Tenses
10.1The Simple Future
10.2Conditional Tense
10.3Continuous Tenses
10.4Perfect Tense
10.5Present Subjunctive
10.5.1Present Subjunctive: AR Verbs10.5.2Present Subjunctive: ER Verbs10.5.3Present Subjunctive: IR Verbs10.5.4Irregular AR Verbs (1/3)10.5.5Irregular AR Verbs (2/3)10.5.6Irregular AR Verbs (3/3)10.5.7Irregular ER Verbs (1/2)10.5.8Irregular ER Verbs (2/2)10.5.9Irregular IR Verbs (1/3)10.5.10Irregular IR Verbs (2/3)10.5.11Irregular IR Verbs (3/3)10.5.12The Verb 'Ir'10.5.13Subjunctive Uses
10.6Imperfect Subjunctive
11Extra Grammar
11.2Negatives
11.3Nouns
11.4Asking Questions
11.5Adjectives
11.6Adverbs
11.7Conjunctions
11.8Pronouns
11.9By, With, From, Of
11.10Verbs
11.11Comparisons
Practice questions on Phrases Using 'Tener'
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1¿Qué significa 'tener lugar' en Inglés?Multiple choice
- 2How do you say 'to be lucky' in Spanish?Multiple choice
- 3How do you say 'they are scared of sharks' in Spanish?Multiple choice
- 4
- 5
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books