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Tener Verb Conjugation and Usage

Jun 5, 2025

Overview

This lesson reviews the irregular verb "tener" (to have) in the present and preterite tenses, including conjugations, usage examples, translation practice, and notes on expressing obligation.

Present Tense of Tener

  • "Tener" is irregular in the present tense.
  • Present tense forms: yo tengo, tĂş tienes, Ă©l/ella/usted tiene, nosotros/as tenemos, ellos/ellas/ustedes tienen.
  • Example: "Yo tengo mucha tarea" means "I have a lot of homework."
  • Example: "Silvia y Carlos tienen mucha ropa" means "Silvia and Carlos have a lot of clothes."

Preterite Tense of Tener

  • "Tener" is also irregular in the preterite (past) tense.
  • Preterite forms: yo tuve, tĂş tuviste, Ă©l/ella/usted tuvo, nosotros/as tuvimos, ellos/ellas/ustedes tuvieron.
  • Example: "Yo tuve mucha tarea" means "I had a lot of homework."
  • Example: "Silvia y Carlos tuvieron mucha ropa" means "Silvia and Carlos had a lot of clothes."

Practice: Changing Tenses

  • Yo tengo → yo tuve.
  • Ellos tienen → ellos tuvieron.
  • Ella tiene → ella tuvo.
  • Nosotros tenemos → nosotros tuvimos.
  • VĂ­ctor tiene → VĂ­ctor tuvo.
  • TĂş tienes → tĂş tuviste.
  • Usted tiene → usted tuvo.
  • Ellas tienen → ellas tuvieron.

Practice: English to Spanish Translations

  • Javier had a lot of homework → Javier tuvo mucha tarea.
  • I had a date on Friday → Yo tuve una cita el viernes.
  • We had to take out the trash → Nosotros tuvimos que sacar la basura.
  • Maria and Carmen had an accident → MarĂ­a y Carmen tuvieron un accidente.
  • Did you not have time? → ÂżNo tuviste tiempo?
  • They had to clean their room → Ellos tuvieron que limpiar su cuarto.

Expressing Obligation with Tener que

  • "Tener que" + infinitive is used to express obligation (must/have to).
  • Example: "Ellos tuvieron que limpiar su cuarto" means "They had to clean their room."

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Tener — to have
  • Preterite tense — past tense for completed actions
  • Tener que — to have to (expresses obligation)

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Practice conjugating "tener" in both present and preterite tenses.
  • Translate more sentences from English to Spanish using "tener."
  • Review the use of "tener que" for expressing obligations.

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