The verb Tener
TO HAVE
TO HAVE AS A MAIN VERB
As a main verb “to have” implies the
meaning of possession.
TENER
Tener means "to have", but it is also used to form
certain expressions ("to have to do something"),
and certain conditions ("to be hungry, thirsty,
hot," etc.)
Tener is both a Yo Irregular verb as well as
a Stem-changing verb:
For example: “I have a job.” “I have a
car.“ "I don't have any time."
Tener
yo
Tú
Él,
ella,
usted
tengo
tienes
tiene
When it is used to indicate possession
you can say "I have..." or you might see/
nosotros
ellos,
ellas,
Uds.
tenemos
tienen
hear "I have got...".
Examples of Tener
When you are talking about actions, you
only use "have".
Tengo tres libros
I have three books
For example:
Tienes una familia
muy unida
You have a very close-knit
family.
Tenemos la clase de
música a las nueve.
We have music class at nine
o'clock.
Jenny y Chika tienen
unas fotos de
Leonardo DiCaprio
Jenny y Chika have some photos
of Leonardo DiCaprio.
Tengo un póster del
Hombre Murciélago
I have a Batman
Possession:I have a shower in my bathroom, I don't
have a bath. = I have got a shower in my
bathroom. I haven't got a bath.
The action:I have a shower every day. - I'm having a
shower now.
Note - it does not take the continuous
form "I having" - for that you have to use
the auxiliary verb be.
poster.
For example: “I am having a shower.”
“Are you having a good time?"
The forms of the verb “to have”
are have and has for the present
and had for the past.
Tener expressions

In English we say that we are hungry or we are
hot, using a form of "to Be". In Spanish, if you
used a form of Ser with one of these
descriptions, you would be saying something
entirely different.
For example, to say "I am hot", we use Tener [not Ser ]
: Tengo calor[literally, "I have heat"]
The verb “to have” is used as an
If you made the mistake of saying *Yo soy calor ,
you would be saying something like, "I am the
incarnation of the abstract concept of Heat." This
is probably not what you intended to say unless you
were in a play involving the elements. So review
the Tener phrases and practice them until it seems
natural to say them.
auxiliary verb to help other verbs create
Common Tener expressions include:
Examples
TO HAVE AS AN AUXILIARY VERB
the perfect tense - auxiliary verb have
[+ past participle].
Tener calor
to be hot
For example, “I have read a lot of
Tener cuidado
to be careful
Tener éxito
to be successful
Tener frío
to be cold
Tener ganas de
to feel like..., to have the
desire to...
Tener hambre
to be hungry
books,” or “I have never been to
America,” or "I have already eaten."
THE USE OF HAVE TO
In addition to the two forms, there is
another use for have as a modal
verb; have to or have got to. This, of
course, must be followed by another
verb "We have to do something".
TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE
If something is done for you, in other
Tener interés
to be interested
Tener miedo
to be afraid
Tener sed
to be thirsty
Tener sueño
to be sleepy
Tener prisa
to be in a hurry
Tener razón
to be right (correct)
No tener razón
to be wrong
words you haven't actually done it
yourself, we use the structure "to have
something done".
For example:"I have my hair cut once every six
weeks." (I don't cut my own hair, my
hairdresser cuts it for me.)
Another way we use Tener is to express that we
"have to" do something.
The expression is constructed with Tener + que +
infinitive:
Tengo que estudiar esta
mañana
I have to study this
morning.
Tienes que practicar tenis
hoy
You have to practice tenis
today.
Tenemos que hablar con la
profesora
We have to speak with the
professor.
Tienen que ir al hospital
They have to go to the
hospital.
Ustedes tienen que leer el
drama
You (all) have to read the
play.
We also use Tener to express that we "really feel
like" doing something or have the desire to do
something.
The expression is constructed with Tener ganas +
de + infinitive:
Tengo ganas de estudiar
esta mañana.
I seriously have a passion to
study this morning.
Tienes ganas de jugar al
tenis hoy.
You really want to play
tenis today.
Tenemos ganas de bailar.
We really feel like dancing.
Tienen ganas de ir al
hospital para visitar a su
primo.
They really want to go to
the hospital to visit their
cousin.
Ustedes tienen ganas de
asistir al drama.
You all really have a desire
to attend this play.
And of course, we use Tener to express age:
Tengo veintiún años
I'm twenty-one (years old).
Tiene quince años
He's fifteen (years old).
Nosotros dos tenemos
veinticinco años
We're both twenty five
years old.