El verbo TENER Definition: to have
TENER The verb tener means to have. The forms of tener are a bit IRREGULAR.
Conjugations subjectTENERmeaning yo ten g o I have tú t ie ne you have (familiar) él ella usted t ie ne he has she has you have (formal) nosotros nosotras tenemoswe have ellos ellas ustedes t ie nen they have you all have
Uses of TENER 1. To express age Ask ¿Cuántos años tienes? Literally, “how many years do you have?” In English: “how old are you?”
In english… to be In English we use the verb TO BE to express age I am thirty years old. He is eight years old. You are fifty years old.
In Spanish… to have In Spanish the verb tener is used. Note how the previous examples would be expressed in Spanish. (Yo) Tengo treinta años. (Él) Tiene ocho años. (Tú) Tienes cincuenta años. (Ud.) Tiene cincuenta años.
Uses of TENER 2. To express something you have Just like in English we use to have to express things/qualities we possess (I have blue eyes; He has five sisters; We have brown hair).
In Spanish How would you write those examples in Spanish? (Yo) Tengo ojos azules. (Él) tiene cinco hermanas. (Nosotros) tenemos pelo castaño.
Words related to age joven: viejo: mayor: menor: young old older younger
práctica I have a younger brother. He has an old grandfather. We have an older sister They have young children. (Yo) Tengo un hermano menor. (Él) Tiene un abuelo viejo. (Nosotros) Tenemos una hermana mayor. (Ellos) Tienen unos hijos jovenes.