4.10: Gramática- Expresiones con tener y tener + que

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 115136

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

Objetivos

Recognize and understand the common expressions with the verb tener
Use tener + que + infinitive to describe things one has to do

Tener + noun for physical conditions

There are a number of idiomatic expressions that combine forms of tener with certain nouns to express some physical conditions of people; these are expressed with “to be” in English, so you’ll have to pay close attention to remembering the Spanish way of saying them.

Tener calor = to be/feel hot (literally, “to have heat”)
Tener frío = to be/feel cold
Tener hambre = to be hungry
Tener miedo = to be afraid
Tener prisa = to be in a hurry
Tener sed = to be thirsty
Tener vergüenza = to be embarrassed
Tener ganas de = to be in the mood for
Tener sueño = to be sleepy
Tener suerte = to have luck, be fortunate
tener # años = to be # years old

Tener + que + infinitive: to have to

The verb tener doesn’t just mean “to have” in the sense of possession: it is also used when we try to convey something that we have to do or need to do, following the structure: tener + que + infinitive. This is an example of a modal verb construction where “tener” is conjugated and the other verb is not; it’s different from English in that you need the word “que” to complete the meaning.

Este semestre tengo que estudiar mucho. (This semester I have to study a lot.)
Esteban tiene que hacer la tarea para su clase de literatura. (Esteban has to do the homework for his literature class.)
Nosotros tenemos que hablar con nuestra profesora de español. (We have to speak with our Spanish professor.)

Contributors and Attributions

Gramu00e1tica: Expresiones con tener y tener + que. Authored by: SUNY Oneonta with Lumen Learning. Provided by: SUNY Oneonta. License: CC BY: Attribution