Tener

To Have

The Conjugation of Tener

The verb Tener is an irregular verb that generally means to have. It is conjugated as seen here:

Yo tengo

Tú tienes

Él, Ella, Ud. tiene

Nosotros tenemos

Vosotros tenéis

Ellos, Ellas, Uds. tienen

Regular Usage of Tener

Tener is generally used to show possession.

Examples:

Maria tiene dos gatos.Maria has two cats.

Los estudíantes tienen mucho tarea.The students have a lot of homework.

Using Tener Negatively

Although Tener is an irregular verb, using it in a negative sentence is much the same as with regular verbs.

Place the word no directly before the verb:

Yo no tengo un gato; yo tengo un perro.

I don’t have a cat; I have a dog.

Other of Tener

In Spanish, the verb Tener is used the way that the verb To Be is used in English. We refer to these uses of Tener as idiomatic expressions.

In Spanish instead of saying that one is cold, warm, tired, afraid, in a hurry, or other feelings, we say that one has these feelings.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Tener frío – to be cold

Yo siempre tengo frío en el invierno.

I am always cold in the winter.

Tener calor- to be warm/hot

Él tiene calor en el verano.

He is warm in the summer.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Tener sueño – to be sleepy

Andrés tiene sueño.

Andrew is sleepy.

Tener suerte – to be lucky

Tú tienes muchos buenos amigos,

tienes suerte.

You have many good friends, you

are very lucky.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Tener hambre- to be hungry

El perro siempre tiene hambre.

The dog is always hungry.

Tener sed – to be thirsty

Hace mucho calor hoy, tengo sed.

It’s very hot today, I’m thirsty.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Tener prisa – to be in a hurry

La clase empienza a las ocho, tenemos prisa.

The class begins at eight, we are in a hurry.

Tener (#) años – to be (#) years old

Esteban tiene quince años.

Steve is 15 years old.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Tener razón – to be right; correct

Sí, dos y dos son cuatro, tiene razón.

Yes, two and two are four, you are correct.

No tener razón – to be wrong, incorrect

No, dos y trés no son dos;

no tienes razón.

No, two and three are not two;

you are incorrect.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Tener miedo de – to be afraid of (always used with a

noun)

La chica tiene miedo de las arañas.

The girl is afraid of spiders.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Tener miedo a – to be afraid of doing (always used with a verb)

El niño tiene miedo a no pasar el examen.

The boy is afraid of not passing the test.

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Review of Idiomatic Expression List:

Tener frío To be cold

Tener calor To be warm/hot

Tener sueño To be sleepy

Tener suerte To be lucky

Tener hambre To be hungry

Tener sed To be thirsty

Tener prisa To be in a hurry

Tener (#) añosTo be (#) years old

Idiomatic Expressions with Tener

Review of Idiomatic Expression List:Tener razón To be right; correct

No tener razón To be wrong; incorrect

Tener miedo de To be afraid of (always used with a noun)

Tener miedo a To be afraid of doing (always used with a verb)