tener
A1irregular#3 most commonto have
Also: to own, to hold
Meaning & usage
Beyond possession, 'tener' forms many idioms about age, feelings and obligations (tener hambre, tener 20 años, tener que…).
Conjugation
| Pronoun | tener | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| yo | tengo | |
| tú | tienes | |
| él / ella / Ud. | tiene | |
| nosotros | tenemos | |
| vosotros | tenéis | |
| ellos / ellas / Uds. | tienen |
tener by tense
Example sentences
Tengo dos hermanos.
I have two brothers.
Tienes razón.
You are right.
Tenemos que irnos.
We have to go.
Ella tiene veinte años.
She is twenty years old.
Tuve un sueño extraño.
I had a strange dream.
Tendrán suerte.
They will be lucky.
Common expressions
- tener hambreto be hungry
- tener miedoto be afraid
- tener razónto be right
- tener queto have to
Quick practice
Choose the correct form: yo ___ (Present Subjunctive)
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Frequently asked
How do you conjugate "tener" in the present tense?
In the present tense, "tener" is conjugated as: yo tengo, tú tienes, él/ella tiene, nosotros tenemos, vosotros tenéis, ellos/ellas tienen.
Is "tener" a regular or irregular verb?
"tener" is a irregular Spanish verb. Beyond possession, 'tener' forms many idioms about age, feelings and obligations (tener hambre, tener 20 años, tener que…).
What does "tener" mean in English?
"tener" means "to have", and can also mean "to own", "to hold".
What is the past tense of "tener"?
The preterite (simple past) of "tener" is: yo tuve, tú tuviste, él/ella tuvo, nosotros tuvimos, vosotros tuvisteis, ellos/ellas tuvieron.