Tener is one of the most important and commonly used verbs in Spanish. It means "to have," but it is used not just to indicate possession, but also to talk about age, sensations, obligations, and certain idiomatic expressions. It is irregular in several tenses, so mastering it is crucial for building a strong foundation in Spanish.
Conjugations
Tener is irregular in many forms, including changes from t to ten (tener), teng (tengo), and stem changes e → ie (tienes, tiene).
| Tense | Probability | Spanish Pronouns | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present | % | yo | tengo | I have |
| % | tú | tienes | you (informal) have | |
| % | él/ella/usted | tiene | he/she/you (formal) has/have | |
| % | nosotros/as | tenemos | we have | |
| % | vosotros/as | tenéis | you (plural, Spain) have | |
| % | ellos/as/ustedes | tienen | they/you (plural) have | |
| Preterite | % | yo | tuve | I had |
| % | tú | tuviste | you had | |
| % | él/ella/usted | tuvo | he/she/you had | |
| % | nosotros/as | tuvimos | we had | |
| % | vosotros/as | tuvisteis | you (plural, Spain) had | |
| % | ellos/as/ustedes | tuvieron | they/you (plural) had | |
| Imperfect | % | yo | tenía | I used to have / I had |
| % | tú | tenías | you used to have / you had | |
| % | él/ella/usted | tenía | he/she/you used to have / had | |
| % | nosotros/as | teníamos | we used to have / we had | |
| % | vosotros/as | teníais | you (plural) used to have / had | |
| % | ellos/as/ustedes | tenían | they used to have / had | |
| Future | % | yo | tendré | I will have |
| % | tú | tendrás | you will have | |
| % | él/ella/usted | tendrá | he/she/you will have | |
| % | nosotros/as | tendremos | we will have | |
| % | vosotros/as | tendréis | you (plural) will have | |
| % | ellos/as/ustedes | tendrán | they/you (plural) will have | |
| Present Perfect | % | yo | he tenido | I have had |
| % | tú | has tenido | you have had | |
| % | él/ella/usted | ha tenido | he/she/you have had | |
| % | nosotros/as | hemos tenido | we have had | |
| % | vosotros/as | habéis tenido | you (plural) have had | |
| % | ellos/as/ustedes | han tenido | they/you (plural) have had |
They have had enough. (ellos, tener, present perfect)
Han tenido suficiente.
'Han tenido' is the correct present perfect form (ellos/ustedes) meaning 'they have had.'
Usage Categories
Tener is used in various contexts beyond simply signaling possession.
| Category | Description | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possession | Expressing ownership or possession | Tengo un libro. | I have a book. |
| Age | Saying how old someone is | Tengo veinte años. | I am twenty years old. |
| Obligations | Using "tener que" + infinitive to mean "have to" | Tengo que estudiar. | I have to study. |
| Sensations | Describing physical or emotional sensations | Tengo hambre. | I am hungry. |
| Common Phrases | Idiomatic expressions using tener | Tengo prisa. | I am in a hurry. |
Examples
Here are some example sentences for each category of usage.
| Category | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | Tengo dos hermanos. | I have two brothers. |
| Age | Mi abuelo tiene ochenta años. | My grandfather is eighty years old. |
| Obligations | Tenemos que salir temprano. | We have to leave early. |
| Sensations | Tengo frío. | I am cold. |
| Common Phrases | ¿Tienes razón? | Are you right? |
Tips
- Remember the stem changes in the present tense (tengo, tienes, tiene, tienen).
- Use tener que + infinitive to express obligations.
- Don’t confuse Tener (to have) with Haber (used for compound tenses) or Hay (there is/are).
- Practice common idiomatic expressions to sound more natural.
Common Idioms with Tener
| Spanish Expression | English Translation | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| tener hambre | to be hungry | Tengo hambre. (I am hungry.) |
| tener sed | to be thirsty | Tengo sed. (I am thirsty.) |
| tener sueño | to be sleepy | Tengo sueño. (I am sleepy.) |
| tener prisa | to be in a hurry | Tengo prisa. (I am in a hurry.) |
| tener miedo (de) | to be afraid (of) | Tengo miedo de las arañas. (I’m afraid of spiders.) |
Tener is an essential verb that unlocks many aspects of everyday conversation in Spanish. Practice its irregular forms and common usages to build confidence and fluency.
She is afraid of spiders.
Tiene miedo de las arañas.
'Tener miedo de' means 'to be afraid of.' The correct preposition is 'de.'
Flashcards (1 of 45)
- Tense: Present
- Probability: 100%
- English Conjugation: I have
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
