Tener Conjugation
Tener means "to have" in Spanish and is one of the most frequently used verbs. It's irregular in several tenses and is used in many common expressions like "tener que" (to have to), "tener hambre" (to be hungry), and "tener años" (to be years old).
Full Conjugation Table
Example Sentences
Yo tengo dos hermanos.
I have two brothers.
Ella tiene mucho trabajo.
She has a lot of work.
Nosotros tuvimos una reunión ayer.
We had a meeting yesterday.
Cuando era joven, tenía un perro.
When I was young, I had a dog.
Mañana tendremos tiempo libre.
Tomorrow we will have free time.
Con más dinero, tendría una casa grande.
With more money, I would have a big house.
Common Mistakes
❌ Forgetting tengo in first person
The yo form is 'tengo' not 'teno'. This irregular go form also appears in verbs like hacer (hago) and venir (vengo).
❌ Using tener for age incorrectly
In Spanish, age uses tener: 'Tengo 25 años' (I am 25 years old), not 'Soy 25 años'.
❌ Tener + que = obligation
'Tener que + infinitive' means 'to have to do something'. 'Tengo que estudiar' = I have to study. Don't confuse with just 'tener'.
❌ Future stem drop
The future stem is 'tendr-' not 'tener-'. Say 'tendré' not 'teneré'.
Quick Practice Quiz
Yo ___ tres gatos. (I have three cats.)