Mastering the Spanish Verb "Tener" in the Present Tense
By Lingobi · Published on 02/10/2025
The Spanish verb tener means "to have" and is one of the most commonly used verbs in the language. It is an irregular verb, which means its conjugations do not follow standard patterns. Learning how to use tener correctly is essential for building your Spanish fluency.
Conjugation of Tener in the Present Tense
Here’s how tener is conjugated in the present tense:
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tengo | Yo tengo un perro. (I have a dog.) |
| Tú | tienes | ¿Tienes una bicicleta? (Do you have a bicycle?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | tiene | Ella tiene una idea. (She has an idea.) |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | tenemos | Nosotros tenemos hambre. (We are hungry.) |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | tenéis | ¿Tenéis tiempo? (Do you all have time?) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | tienen | Ellos tienen mucha tarea. (They have a lot of homework.) |
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Common Uses of Tener
The verb tener is not just used for possession but also in many idiomatic expressions:
- Tener hambre – To be hungry (Tengo hambre = I am hungry.)
- Tener sed – To be thirsty (¿Tienes sed? = Are you thirsty?)
- Tener años – To express age (Mi hermana tiene 20 años. = My sister is 20 years old.)
- Tener frío/calor – To be cold/hot (Ellos tienen frío. = They are cold.)
- Tener razón – To be right (Tú tienes razón. = You are right.)
Mastering tener will make your Spanish conversations feel much more natural. Start practicing today and make it part of your daily routine!
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