Tener - To Have

​Tener is, like ser, an irregular verb. You need to keep that in mind when building sentences with it.

​Tener means to have, to own, or to possess. We can use tener to express something that we physically possess or a way we feel at a certain point in time - a feeling or need we “have.”

​Tener = To Have

​Take a few moments to study the conjugation chart:

Notice how some literal translations are different than what we would say in English. In Spanish, tener is used more for emotions and feelings. Let’s have a look at what some literal translations look like:

Yo tengo hambre = I have hunger = I am hungry (I feel hunger)
Tu tienes miedo = You have fear = You are fearful (You feel fear)
Ellos tienen sed = They have thirst = They are thirsty (They feel thirst)




Now PRACTICE the verb TENER by choosing the correct answer to the multiple choice questions on the following slides:

Multiple Choice

Nosotros tenemos

• We have (mixed/male group)

• They have (mixed/maled group)

• He has

• They have (female group)

Multiple Choice

I have

• Yo soy

• Tu tienes

• Yo tengo

• El tiene

Multiple Choice

He has

• Usted tiene

• El tiene

• Ella tiene

• Tu tienes

Multiple Choice

They are hungry.

• Ellos tienen hambre.

• Ustedes tienen hambre.

• Yo tengo hambre.

• Usted tiene hambre.

Multiple Choice

She is cold.

• Yo soy frio.

• El tiene frio.

• Ella tiene frio.

• Ella es fria.

Multiple Choice

He has a dog.

• Ella tiene un perro.

• Yo tengo un perro.

• El tiene un perro.

• Nosotros tenemos un perro.

Multiple Choice

I am 20 years old.

• Tu tienes veinte años.

• Yo tengo veinte años.

• Yo tengo diez años.

• Yo soy veinte años.

Multiple Choice

Ustedes tienen familia en Puerto Rico.

• You guys have family in Puerto Rico.

• You are in Puerto Rico.

• They have family in Puerto Rico.

• They are from Puerto Rico.

Multiple Choice

Tu tienes un gato.

• You have a cat (formal).

• You need a cat.

• You have a cat (informal.)

• I have a cat.

Multiple Choice

I have three sisters.

• Ella tiene tres hermanas.

• Yo soy tres hermanas

• Ellas son tres hermanas.

• Yo tengo tres hermanas.

Multiple Choice

Cuantos años tiene usted?

• How old are you (formal)?

• How old are you (informal)?

• How old is he?

• How are you?

Multiple Choice

She is 18 years old.

• El tiene dieciocho años.

• Ella es dieciocho años.

• El es ocho años.

• Ella tiene dieciocho años.

Multiple Choice

Yo tengo hambre.

• You are hungry.

• I am hungry.

• I have pain.

• I am angry.