How to Use 'Tener'
Spanish: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 9.3.1
'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).
Tengo - I have
Tienes - you have
Tiene - he/she has
Tenemos - we have
Tenéis - you have
Tienen - they have
Uses of 'Tener'
As well as being the verb 'to have', 'tener' has a lot of other uses in Spanish.
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
- 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
- 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.
Test yourself on How to Use 'Tener'
How do you say 'you have' in Spanish?
How do you say 'she has to leave early' in Spanish?