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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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 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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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
Tú	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	–
Tú	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	–
Tú	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.)

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