TENER/ TO HAVE

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Tener is equivalent to the verb to have or to possess. It follows the pattern of e:ie stem-changing verbs, with the exception of yo/ I, which ends in -go.

 

Pronoun	Present	Past	Future	Conditional
yo/ I	tengo	tuve	tendré	tendría
tú/ you	tienes	tuviste	tendrás	tendrías
él, ella, Ud./ he, she, you	tiene	tuvo	tendrá	tendría
nos./ we	tenemos	tuvimos	tendremos	tendríamos
vos./you	teneis	tuvisteis	tendréis	tendríais
ellos, Uds./ they, you	tienen	tuvieron	tendrán	tendrían

 

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1. Tener + que

This expression is equivalent to the English expression to have to (do something).

EXAMPLES

• Tengo que repetir cada ejemplo./ I have to repeat each example.
• Tuvimos que convencer a los inversionistas./ We had to convince the investors.

NOTE: Tener que is followed by an infinitive.

 

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2. The simplest way of expressing possession is by using tener/ to have.

EXAMPLES

• Mi jefe tiene mucha experiencia./ My boss has a lot of experience.
• Tuvimos muchos fondos para invertir./ We had a lot of funds to invest.

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3. In Spanish, tener is used for indicating age. On the other hand, in English the verb to be is used for telling age.

EXAMPLES

• Tengo 23 años./ I am 23 years old.
• Mi abuela tenía 88 años cuando falleció./ My grand-mother was 88 years old when she passed away.

 

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4. Tener + noun

This expression is used for describing states, but in English to be is commonly used.

a. Tener calor/ to be hot

• Tengo mucho calor./ I am very hot.

b. Tener éxito/ to be successful

• Los productos importados tuvieron mucho éxito./ Imported goods were successful.

c. Tener frío/ to be cold

• Tuvimos mucho frío en las montañas./ We were very cold in the mountains.

d. Tener celos/ to be jealous

• Mi novio tiene celos de mi./ My boyfriend is jealous of me.

e. Tener cuidado/ to be careful

• Ten cuidado por las noches./ Be careful at night.

f. Tener hambre/ to be hungry

• Tengo tanta hambre que me comería un caballo./ I am so hungry that I could eat a horse.

g. Tener la culpa/ to be at fault

• Yo tengo la culpa./ I am at fault.

h. Tener miedo/ to be afraid, scared

• Tengo miedo de ir al dentista./ I am scared of going to the dentist.

i. Tener paciencia/ to be patient

• Mi hermano tiene mucha paciencia./ My brother is very patient.

j. Tener presente/ to keep in mind

Ten presente el consejo de mamá./ Keep in mind mother's advice.

k. Tener prisa/ to be in a hurry

• Apúrense que tengo mucha prisa./ Hurry up, I am in a big hurry.

l. Tener razón/ to be right, correct

• Tiene razón./ You're right.

m. Tener sed/ to be thirsty

• Tengo mucha sed./ I am very thristy.

n. Tener sueño/ to be sleepy

• El bebé tiene sueño./ The baby is sleepy.

o. Tener suerte/ to be lucky

• Tienes mucha suerte./ You are very lucky.

p. Tener vergüenza/ to be ashamed

• Tengo vergüenza de pedir cosas prestadas./ I am ashamed of borrowing things.

More expressions:

1. Tener que ver con/ to have to do with

• No tengo nada que ver con tus problemas./ I have nothing to do with your problems.

2. Tener catarro, resfrío/ to have a cold

• Tengo un resfrío terrible./ I have a terrible cold.

3. Tener derecho/ to have the right

• Tiene derecho a un abogado./ You have the right to an attorney.

4. Tener en cuenta/ to take into account

• Voy a tener en cuenta lo que me dijiste./ I will take into account what you told me.

5. Tener lugar/ to take place, to have space

• El concierto va a tener lugar en La Paz./ The concert is going to take place in La Paz.
• Tengo lugar para ti en mi auto./ I have space for you in my car.

6. Tener ganas de (+ infinitive)/ to feel like

• Tengo ganas de comer helado./ I feel like eating ice-cream.

LESSONS: International Trade V & International Trade Va.