Tener Conjugation: Complete Guide to "To Have"
Nina Authried
3 min read
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"Tener" (to have) is one of the most essential verbs in Spanish. It's irregular, but once you master it, you unlock countless expressions. Here's your complete guide to conjugating and using "tener."
Present Tense Conjugation
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tengo | I have |
| Tú | tienes | You have (informal) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | tiene | He/She/You (formal) have |
| Nosotros/as | tenemos | We have |
| Vosotros/as | tenéis | You (plural, Spain) have |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | tienen | They/You (plural) have |
Preterite (Past) Tense
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tuve | I had |
| Tú | tuviste | You had (informal) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | tuvo | He/She/You had |
| Nosotros/as | tuvimos | We had |
| Vosotros/as | tuvisteis | You (plural, Spain) had |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | tuvieron | They/You (plural) had |
Imperfect Tense
| Person | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tenía | I used to have / I had |
| Tú | tenías | You used to have |
| Él/Ella/Usted | tenía | He/She/You used to have |
| Nosotros/as | teníamos | We used to have |
| Vosotros/as | teníais | You (plural, Spain) used to have |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | tenían | They/You (plural) used to have |
Essential Expressions with Tener
- tener hambre/sed — to be hungry/thirsty
- tener frío/calor — to be cold/hot
- tener sueño — to be sleepy
- tener miedo — to be afraid
- tener prisa — to be in a hurry
- tener X años — to be X years old
- tener que + infinitive — to have to (do something)
- tener ganas de — to feel like (doing something)
Common Mistakes
- Using ser/estar for age: "Soy 25 años" → Say "Tengo 25 años"
- Translating literally: "Soy hambre" → Say "Tengo hambre"
- Regular verb endings: "tener" is irregular—memorize the stems
Quick Practice (10 Minutes)
- Conjugate tener in present tense (all persons).
- Use 5 expressions above in sentences.
- Practice age: "Tengo X años" with your age.
Example: "Tengo 30 años, tengo hambre, y tengo que estudiar."
Master Tener Naturally
The best way to master "tener" isn't memorizing charts—it's using it daily in real conversations. Practice these forms in context, get instant feedback, and watch them become automatic. Try Parlai and use "tener" naturally while chatting about your life.
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