Tener in Spanish

Master the Tener Conjugation in Spanish and get a “Hold” on the language!

Hold on to your seats: you need to master the Tener conjugation to speak fluent Spanish (see what we did there?). Our detailed guide includes explanations of each tener conjugation as well as examples of each conjugation.  This fun irregular verb is always used at position #15 of our most frequently used Spanish word list.

 Learning other irregular verbs will be smooth sailing once you learn the proper “tener” conjugation in Spanish.

The verb “tener” is one of the most common and valuable verbs in the Spanish language. It is an irregular verb that means “to have” in English. 

“Tener” is a versatile verb that is used in many contexts. You can use it for the following instances:

  • Possession
  • Age
  • Expressing hunger or thirst
  • Expressing emotions
  • Expressing obligation
  • Idiomatic expressions

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“Tener” Conjugation Indicative / Indicativo

The indicative tense (el modo indicativo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The indicative mood is used to make factual statements, ask questions, and express opinions about actions or events that are considered real or certain.

Present Tense Tener Conjugation / Presente

The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or to express general truths or habitual actions.

Yo Tengo
Tienes
Él/Ella/Usted Tiene
Nosotros Tenemos
Vosotros Teneis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tienen

Examples:

  1. Tengo un perro llamado Max. (I have a dog named Max.)
  2. ¿Tienes tiempo para salir esta tarde? (Do you have time to go out this afternoon?)
  3. Juan tiene un nuevo coche. (Juan has a new car.)

​​Simple Past Tener Conjugation / Pasado 

The simple past tense (preterite) is used to describe completed actions in the past, often with specific time frames or events.

Yo Tuve
Tuviste
Él/Ella/Usted Tuvo
Nosotros Tuvimos
Vosotros Tuvisteis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tuvieron

Examples:

  1. Ayer tuve una entrevista de trabajo. (Yesterday I had a job interview.)
  2. El año pasado tuvimos unas vacaciones increíbles en la playa. (Last year we had an amazing beach vacation.)
  3. ¿Tuvisteis tiempo de estudiar para el examen? (Did you have time to study for the exam?)

Imperfect Tener Conjugation / Imperfecto

Spanish imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the stage or provide background information.

Yo Tenía
Tenías
Él/Ella/Usted Tenía
Nosotros Teníamos
Vosotros Teníais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tenían

Examples:

  1. ¿Tenías planes para el fin de semana? (Did you have plans for the weekend?)
  2. Ella tenía un vestido azul muy bonito. (She had a very pretty blue dress.)
  3. Mis vecinos tenían una granja con muchos animales. (My neighbors had a farm with many animals.)

Present Continuous Tener Conjugation / Presente Continuo

The present continuous tense (also known as “estar + gerundio”) is used to describe actions that are currently happening in the present moment or to express temporary situations.

Yo Estoy teniendo
Estás teniendo
Él/Ella/Usted Está teniendo
Nosotros Estamos teniendo
Vosotros Estáis teniendo
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Están teniendo

Examples:

  1. Estoy teniendo dificultades para entender esta lección. (I am having a hard time understanding this lesson.)
  2. ¿Estás teniendo algún problema con la tarea? (Are you having a problem with homework?)

Future Tense Tener Conjugation / Futuro

The Spanish future tense is used to express actions or events that will happen in the future, indicating something that has not yet occurred.

Yo Tendré
Tendrás
Él/Ella/Usted Tendrá
Nosotros Tendremos
Vosotros Tendréis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tendrán

Examples:

  1. Mi hermana tendrá su cumpleaños la próxima semana. (My sister will have her birthday next week.)
  2. ¿Tendréis suficiente comida para la fiesta? (Will you have enough food for the party?)
  3. Mis padres tendrán una cena con sus amigos esta noche. (My parents will have dinner with their friends tonight.)

Conditional Tener Conjugation / Condicional

The conditional tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions or events that would happen under certain conditions in the present or future.

Yo Tendría
Tendrías
Él/Ella/Usted Tendría
Nosotros Tendríamos
Vosotros Tendríais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tendrían

Examples:

  1. Si ganara la lotería, yo tendría suficiente dinero para viajar por el mundo. (If I won the lottery, I would have enough money to travel the world.)
  2. Usted tendría que confirmar su asistencia a la conferencia. (You would have to RSVP to the conference.)
  3. Si ahorrarais un poco cada mes, tendríais suficiente para comprar ese coche nuevo. (If you saved a little each month, you would have enough to buy that new car.)

Present Perfect Tener Conjugation / Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto

Spanish present perfect tense (also known as “pretérito perfecto compuesto”) is used to express actions that have occurred in the past but have a connection to the present, emphasizing the result or consequences of those actions.

Yo He tenido
Has tenido
Él/Ella/Usted Ha tenido
Nosotros Hemos tenido
Vosotros Habéis tenido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Han tenido

Examples:

  1. Últimamente, he tenido muchos problemas en el trabajo. (Lately, I’ve been having a lot of problems at work.)
  2. ¿Has tenido la oportunidad de probar la nueva comida del restaurante? (Have you had the chance to try the new restaurant food?)
  3. Mi hermana ha tenido un bebé recientemente. (My sister has recently had a baby.)

Past Perfect Tener Conjugation / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish past perfect tense (also known as “pretérito pluscuamperfecto”) is used to describe actions that occurred before another past action or event, expressing a past-in-the-past relationship.

Yo Había tenido
Has tenido
Él/Ella/Usted Ha tenido
Nosotros Hemos tenido
Vosotros Habéis tenido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Han tenido

Example:

  1. Antes de mudarme, había tenido varios problemas con mis vecinos. (Before I moved, I had had several problems with my neighbors.)
  2. ¿Habéis tenido la oportunidad de viajar al extranjero? (Have you had the opportunity to travel abroad?)
  3. Mis amigos han tenido muchas aventuras emocionantes durante su viaje. (My friends have had many exciting adventures during their trip.)

Future Perfect Tener Conjugation / Futuro Perfecto

The Spanish future perfect tense is used to express actions that will have been completed in the future, indicating an action that will be finished before another specified future time or event.

Yo Habré tenido
Habrás tenido
Él/Ella/Usted Habrá tenido
Nosotros Habremos tenido
Vosotros Habréis tenido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Habrán tenido

Examples:

  1. Cuando regreses de tu viaje, habrás tenido muchas experiencias nuevas para contar. (When you return from your trip, you will have had many new experiences to tell.)
  2. Antes de terminar el proyecto, habremos tenido que superar muchos obstáculos. (Before finishing the project, we will have had to overcome many obstacles.)
  3. Después de años de dedicación, ellos habrán tenido mucho éxito en sus carreras. (After years of dedication, they will have been very successful in their careers.)

Conditional Perfect Tener Conjugation / Condicional Perfect

The conditional perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions that would have been completed in the past, indicating an action that would have happened prior to another past event.

Yo Habría tenido
Habrías tenido
Él/Ella/Usted Habría tenido
Nosotros Habrían tenido
Vosotros Habríais tenido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Habrían tenido

Examples:

  1. Si hubiera estudiado más, habría tenido mejores calificaciones en el examen. (If I had studied more, I would have scored better on the test.)
  2. Si hubiera ganado la lotería, habría tenido suficiente dinero para comprar una casa nueva. (If he had won the lottery, he would have had enough money to buy a new house.)
  3. Si hubieran tomado decisiones diferentes, habrían tenido resultados distintos. (If they had made different decisions, they would have had different results.)

“Tener” Conjugation in Spanish

“Tener” Conjugation Subjunctive / Subjuntivo

The subjunctive tense (el modo subjuntivo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, emotion, and hypothetical situations.

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Present Tense / Presente

The Spanish subjunctive present tense is used to express subjective actions, desires, doubts, recommendations, or possibilities, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, necessity, or influence.

Yo Tenga
Tengas
Él/Ella/Usted Tenga
Nosotros Tengamos
Vosotros Tengáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tengan

Examples:

  1. Es importante que yo tenga paciencia en esta situación. (It is important that I have patience in this situation.)
  2. Espero que tengas un buen día. (I hope you have a good day.)

Imperfect / Imperfecto

This tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, uncertainty, or unreal conditions.

Yo Tuviera
Tuvieras
Él/Ella/Usted Tuviera
Nosotros Tuviéramos
Vosotros Tuvierais 
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tuvieran

Examples:

  1. Si yo tuviera más dinero, viajaría por todo el mundo. (If I had more money, I would travel all over the world.)
  2. Sería genial si él tuviera más tiempo libre para dedicarse a sus hobbies. (It would be great if he had more free time to pursue his hobbies.)

Future Tense / Futuro

The Spanish subjunctive future tense is used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future.

Yo Tuviere
Tuvieres
Él/Ella/Usted Tuviere
Nosotros Tuviéremos
Vosotros Tuviereis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tuvieren

Examples:

  1. Si yo tuviere la oportunidad, viajaré al extranjero. (If I have the opportunity, I will travel abroad.)
  2. Espero que tú tuvieres éxito en tus proyectos. (I hope you are successful in your projects.)
  3. Si vosotros tuviereis alguna pregunta, no dudéis en hacerla. (If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.)

Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto

Spanish subjunctive present perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the present with a connection to the past, indicating actions that would have been completed prior to the present moment.

Yo Haya tenido
Hayas tenido
Él/Ella/Usted Haya tenido
Nosotros Hayamos tenido
Vosotros Hayáis tenido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Hayan tenido

Examples:

  1. Me alegra que hayas tenido la oportunidad de viajar por Europa. (I’m glad you had the chance to travel around Europe.)
  2. Es posible que ella haya tenido dificultades para adaptarse a su nuevo entorno. (It is possible that she had a difficult time adjusting to her new surroundings.)
  3. Es evidente que ellos han tenido éxito en su negocio. (It is evident that they have been successful in their business.)

Past Perfect / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish subjunctive past perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past with a connection to a previous past event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that past event.

Yo Hubiera tenido
Hubieras tenido
Él/Ella/Usted Hubiera tenido
Nosotros Hubiéramos tenido
Vosotros Hubierais tenido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Hubieran tenido

Examples:

  1. Si yo hubiera tenido más tiempo, habría terminado el proyecto antes. (If I had had more time, I would have finished the project sooner.)
  2. ¿Qué hubieras hecho si hubieras tenido la oportunidad de estudiar en el extranjero? (What would you have done if you had had the opportunity to study abroad?)

Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto

The future perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future with a connection to a future event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that future event.

Yo Hubiere tenido
Hubieres tenido
Él/Ella/Usted Hubiere tenido
Nosotros Hubiéremos tenido
Vosotros Hubiereis tenido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Hubieren tenido

Examples:

  1. Si yo hubiere tenido dinero, habría comprado ese vestido. (If I had had money, I would have bought that dress.)
  2. Si hubiéremos tenido más recursos, habríamos realizado un proyecto aún más grande. (If we had had more resources, we would have done an even bigger project.)

“Tener” in Imperative / Imperativo

The imperative tense (el modo imperativo) is one of the verb moods used to express commands, orders, or requests. It is used to tell someone what to do or what not to do.

Affirmative / Afirmativos

Spanish affirmative refers to the use of positive statements or expressions that indicate agreement, confirmation, or positive response to a question or statement.

Yo
Ten
Él/Ella/Usted Tenga
Nosotros Tengamos
Vosotros Tened
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes Tengan

Examples:

  1. Ten paciencia! (Be patient!)
  2. Por favor, tenga en cuenta las instrucciones. (Please note the instructions.)
  3. Tengamos una reunión para discutir el proyecto. (Let’s have a meeting to discuss the project.)

Negative / Negativos

Spanish negative refers to the use of negative statements or expressions that indicate negation, denial, or disagreement with a question or statement.

Yo
No tengas
Él/Ella/Usted No tenga
Nosotros No tengamos
Vosotros No tengáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes No tengan

Examples:

  1. No tenga prisa, tómese su tiempo. (Don’t be in a hurry, take your time.)
  2. No tengáis mala actitud, sed más positivos. (Do not have a bad attitude, be more positive.)

Become a Spanish Expert!

Mastering the conjugation and use of “tener” in Spanish will help you express yourself accurately and effectively in various situations. Now that you know all about the “tener” conjugation in Spanish, you can advance your Spanish level.

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