Identify

• The verb [TENER] means to have. It is an irregular verb.
• May be used to indicate age.

Connect

• LEAF Spanish Grammar: The Verb [TENER] – Basics

60-Second Spanish Grammar Lesson

Study

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The verb [TENER] means to have. It shows possession!

Possession:

Yo tengo un libro de español.
I have a Spanish book.

Nosotros tenemos una clase de inglés pronto.
We have an English class soon.

¿Tú tienes la tarea para hoy?
Do you have the homework for today?

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You’ll also use the verb [TENER] to express your age! You have your years!

In English we are our age. “I AM twenty years old.” But in Spanish, we possess them. Our years are something that we HAVE. “Yo tengo veinte años.” / I HAVE twenty years.

HAVING years or age works for all people in all situations.

¡Yo tengo veinte años!
I have twenty years!
(I am twenty years old!)

Mi padre tiene sesenta años.
My father has sixty years.
(My father is sixty years old.)

Mis hijos tienen dos y cuatro años.
My sons have two and four years.
(My sons are two and four years old.)

Mi amiga tiene treinta años.
My friend (fem.) has thirty years.
(My friend -fem- is thirty years old.)

Mi perro tiene ocho años.
My dog has eight years.
(My dog is eight years old.)

¡Mi niña tiene dieciocho meses ya!
My daughter has eighteen months already!
(My daughter is eighteen months old already!)

Note how the YO, NOSOTROS, and VOSOTROS forms of TENER looks different from the others. This is because TENER is an irregular verb. Check out the lessons on irregular verbs for more details.

Engage

• LEAF 60-Second Spanish Grammar Lesson Index
• LEAF Spanish Verb Conjugation Chart: The Verb [TENER]

Explore

• YouTube/MrLearnSpanish: The Verb Tener
• YouTube/MrLearnSpanish: The Spanish Verb Tener – Part 2
• YouTube/Speakado: “¿Cuántos años tiene usted?”
• YouTube/Speakado: “Cuántos años tienes tú?”
• YouTube/Speakado: “Yo tengo ventiún años”

Quizlet Activity

• The Verb [TENER] with Age – Examples
• Direct Link: [https://quizlet.com/_5kzu16]
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