Spanish Verb “To Have”: Tener Basics for Beginners


Learning the Spanish verb “tener” (to have) is essential for daily conversation. It’s used not only to express possession but also age, obligations, and certain physical states. This guide covers the basics of tener, its uses, conjugation, and practical examples for beginners.

1. Why “Tener” is Important

Unlike English, Spanish often uses tener instead of “to be” to describe certain states or conditions. Examples include:

  • Expressing age: Tengo 20 años → I am 20 years old.

  • Expressing possession: Tengo un libro → I have a book.

  • Expressing obligations: Tengo que estudiar → I have to study.

  • Expressing physical states: Tengo hambre → I am hungry.

⚠️ Tip: Don’t translate literally; “I am hungry” in Spanish is Tengo hambre, not Estoy hambre.

2. Conjugation of Tener in Present Tense

Pronoun Tener English
yo tengo I have
tú tienes you have (informal)
él / ella / usted tiene he/she/you (formal) has
nosotros / nosotras tenemos we have
vosotros / vosotras tenéis you all have (informal, Spain only)
ellos / ellas / ustedes tienen they / you all have

💡 Tip: Vosotros / vosotras is rarely used in Latin America; ustedes is used for all plural “you.”

3. Common Uses of Tener

3.1 Expressing Possession

  • Tengo una casa grande. → I have a big house.

  • ¿Tienes un bolígrafo? → Do you have a pen?

3.2 Expressing Age

  • Tengo treinta años. → I am thirty years old.

  • Mi hermana tiene diez años. → My sister is ten years old.

3.3 Expressing Obligations (Tener + que + infinitive)

  • Tengo que trabajar hoy. → I have to work today.

  • ¿Tienes que estudiar para el examen? → Do you have to study for the exam?

3.4 Expressing Physical and Emotional States (Tener + noun)

  • Tengo hambre. → I am hungry.

  • Tengo sed. → I am thirsty.

  • Tengo frío / calor. → I am cold / hot.

  • Tengo miedo. → I am afraid.

⚠️ Tip: These expressions always use tener + noun, never estar + adjective.

4. Useful Phrases with Tener

  • Tengo sueño. → I am sleepy.

  • Tienes razón. → You are right.

  • Tenemos prisa. → We are in a hurry.

  • Tienen suerte. → They are lucky.

💡 Tip: Combine tener with time expressions to talk about schedules, e.g., Tengo una cita a las 3 → I have an appointment at 3.

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Translating “I am hungry” literally → Estoy hambre ❌ → Correct: Tengo hambre.

  • Forgetting irregular conjugation in the first person → yo tengo, not yo tieno.

  • Using tener instead of ser or estar incorrectly → Tengo cansado ❌ → Correct: Estoy cansado.

6. Conclusion

Mastering tener is crucial for expressing possession, age, obligations, and physical/emotional states in Spanish. By practicing daily sentences and common expressions, beginners can speak more naturally and confidently.

💡 Bonus Tip: Pair tener with common nouns and infinitives to form practical sentences for daily conversations.