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El verbo tener (The Verb “To Have”)
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The verb tener means “to have” in English. You have already seen it earlier in this chapter to express certain physical traits (for example, Tengo el pelo largo > I have long hair). Tener is an irregular verb, which means it does not follow the regular patterns you will see later on with other “-er” verbs. Take a look at the full conjugation:
Subject Pronoun | Singular Form | Subject Pronoun | Plural Form | |
1ra persona | Yo | tengo | Nosotras/os/es | tenemos |
2da persona | Tú Vos Usted | tienes tenés tiene | Ustedes Vosotras/os/es | tienen tenéis |
3ra persona | Ella/él/elle | tiene | Ellas/os/es | tienen |
Check-in Activity
Now, let’s take a look at other uses of tener. Keep in mind that most of them translate into the verb “to be” in English, so you will have to memorize them.
- Posesión (Possession)
- Yo tengo una hermana. 👭
- I have a sister.
- Ella tiene una mascota. 🐈⬛
- She has a pet.
- Edad (Age)
- ¿Cuántos años tienes? 🤔
- How old are you?
- Yo tengo 21 años. 🎂
- I am 21 years old.
- Obligación (Obligation): tener que + verb in the infinitive
- Tengo que estudiar. 🤓📚
- I have to study.
- Tienes que trabajar mañana. 👷🏼
- You have to work tomorrow.
- Deseo (Desire): tener ganas de + verb in the infinitive
- Tengo ganas de dormir todo el día. 😴
- I feel like sleeping all day.
- Tenemos ganas de caminar por el parque. 🚶
- We feel like walking through the park.
- Sensaciones físicas (Physical Sensations)
- Tener hambre 😋
- To be hungry
- Tener sed 😪
- To be thirsty
- Tener frío 🥶
- To be cold
- Tener calor 🥵
- To be hot
- Tener sueño 😴
- To be sleepy
- Otras expresiones (Other Fixed Expressions)
- Tener suerte 🍀
- To be lucky
- Tener miedo 😱
- To be afraid/scared
- Tener razón 🫡
- To be right
- Tener prisa 🏃🏿♂️
- To be in a hurry
- Tener cuidado 🧐
- To be careful
Check-in Activity
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