Spanish Verb Tener Explained, Conjugation & Forms

Spanish Verb Tener Explained, Conjugation & Forms

The Spanish verb “tener” is one of the most common verbs in the Spanish language. It means “to have” and is used to express possession, age and other characteristics of people, animals and objects.

tener conjugation spanish

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The verb “tener” means “to have” in English. Its conjugation looks like this:

  • Yo = tengo (I have)
  • Tú = tienes (You have)
  • Él/ella/usted = tiene (He/she has)
  • Nosotros/nosotras = tenemos (We have)
  • Vosotros/vosotras = tenéis (You have)
  • Ellos/ellas/Uds. = tienen (They have)

Expressions/Phrases – Using The Verb Tener

One of the most common uses of “tener” is to express possession. For example:

  • Tengo un coche. (I have a car.)
  • ¿Tienes un hermano? (Do you have a brother?)
  • Mi abuela tiene un perro. (My grandmother has a dog.)

“Tener” can also be used to express age. In this case, it is followed by the number of years and the word “años” (years). For example:

  • Tengo veinte años. (I am 20 years old.)
  • ¿Cuántos años tienes? (How old are you?)
  • Mi abuelo tiene setenta y cinco años. (My grandfather is 75 years old.)

In addition to expressing possession and age, “tener” is also used to describe the physical or emotional state of a person. For example:

  • Tengo frío. (I am cold.)
  • Tienes razón. (You are right.)
  • Mi amigo tiene miedo de los perros. (My friend is afraid of dogs.)

Overall, “tener” is an essential verb to know in Spanish. Whether you’re expressing possession, age or a physical or emotional state. It’s a versatile verb that will be useful in a variety of situations.


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