tener
to have
Non-Conjugated Forms
tener
to have
teniendo
Present Participle
tenido
Used in perfect tenses
Indicative Mood
Used for statements of fact, certainty, and objective reality
| Person | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | tengo | tuve | tenía | tendré | tendría |
| tú | tienes | tuviste | tenías | tendrás | tendrías |
| él/ella/usted | tiene | tuvo | tenía | tendrá | tendría |
| nosotros | tenemos | tuvimos | teníamos | tendremos | tendríamos |
| vosotros | tenéis | tuvisteis | teníais | tendréis | tendríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | tienen | tuvieron | tenían | tendrán | tendrían |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Perfect Tenses
Compound tenses using auxiliary verb "haber" + past participle
| Person | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | he tenido | había tenido | habré tenido | habría tenido |
| tú | has tenido | habías tenido | habrás tenido | habrías tenido |
| él/ella/usted | ha tenido | había tenido | habrá tenido | habría tenido |
| nosotros | hemos tenido | habíamos tenido | habremos tenido | habríamos tenido |
| vosotros | habéis tenido | habíais tenido | habréis tenido | habríais tenido |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han tenido | habían tenido | habrán tenido | habrían tenido |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Subjunctive Mood
Used for doubt, emotion, desire, possibility, and hypothetical situations
The imperfect subjunctive has two forms: -ra (more common in speech) and -se (more literary, common in Spain). Both are equally correct and interchangeable.
| Person | Literary / Spain | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | tenga | tuviera | tuviese |
| tú | tengas | tuvieras | tuvieses |
| él/ella/usted | tenga | tuviera | tuviese |
| nosotros | tengamos | tuviéramos | tuviésemos |
| vosotros | tengáis | tuvierais | tuvieseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | tengan | tuvieran | tuviesen |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Literary / Spain
Imperative Mood
Used for commands, requests, and instructions
| Person | |
|---|---|
| yo | - |
| tú | ten |
| él/ella/usted | tenga |
| nosotros | tenamos |
| vosotros | tened |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | tenan |
| Quick Test |
🎯 Practice tener
Test your knowledge of tener conjugations across multiple tenses
Irregular Verb
This is an irregular verb, so it doesn't follow the standard conjugation patterns. You'll need to memorise the irregular forms, especially in the present indicative and preterite.
Usage Tips
- Indicative: Use for facts, statements, and objective reality
- Subjunctive: Use after expressions of doubt, emotion, desire, or uncertainty
- Imperative: Use for direct commands and requests
- Perfect Tenses: Use to express actions completed relative to another time
Examples and Common Phrases
Examples
Common Phrases
🔄 Essential Expressions with Tener
Tener is used in countless Spanish expressions that don't translate directly to English. Learn the difference between tener frío (to be cold), tener razón (to be right),tener ganas (to feel like), and many more essential expressions.
Master Tener, Hacer & Dar Expressions →Verb Information
Category
Essential
Ending Type
-er verb
Verb Type
Irregular verb
Importance Rank
#4 out of 100
Usage Tips
High Priority!
This is one of the top 10 most important Spanish verbs. Make sure to practice it regularly and memorise its conjugations.
Practice Suggestion
Try creating your own sentences with this verb. Start with simple present tense sentences and gradually work up to more complex constructions.