Tener Verb Conjugations: The Only Cheat Sheet You Will Need

Tener Command Form

Tener Commands (Imperative Form)

Commands in Spanish, or the imperative form, are used to tell someone what to do or not to do. With tener, this is often used for giving advice, warnings, or instructions.

Conjugation Table: Tener Commands

Examples of Tener in Commands

✅ Affirmative Commands:

• Ten cuidado. (Be careful.)
• Tengan paciencia. (Be patient.)
• Tengamos fe en el futuro. (Let’s have faith in the future.)

🚫 Negative Commands:

• No tengas miedo. (Don’t be afraid.)
• No tenga dudas sobre su decisión. (Don’t have doubts about your decision.)
• No tengamos prisa. (Let’s not be in a hurry.)

Tips for Conjugating Tener Commands

✅ Use “Ten” for Informal Commands – “Ten” is short and commonly used in everyday speech.

• Example: ¡Ten paciencia! (Be patient!)

🚫 For Formal Speech, Use “Tenga” – Use this when addressing someone respectfully (boss, teacher, stranger).

• Example: Tenga un buen día. (Have a good day.)

🛑 Use “No Tengas” for Negative Tú Commands – Just like regular tú commands, but with “no” in front.

• Example: No tengas miedo. (Don’t be afraid.)

💡 Commands Are Great for Giving Advice – Spanish speakers use tener commands all the time in daily life!

• Ten cuidado con el tráfico. (Be careful with traffic.)
• No tengas dudas sobre tu talento. (Don’t doubt your talent.)

Learning tener commands will boost your confidence in conversations, whether you’re giving instructions, making suggestions, or warning someone.

Tener Expressions 

1️⃣ Common Expressions with Tener

Tener is often used in idiomatic expressions that don’t directly translate to English. Cover expressions like:

• Tener hambre (To be hungry)
• Tener sed (To be thirsty)
• Tener frío/calor (To be cold/hot)
• Tener razón (To be right)
• Tener miedo (To be afraid)
• Tener suerte (To be lucky)
• Tener prisa (To be in a hurry)

🔹 Why it matters: Many learners struggle with these because they would normally use “ser” or “estar” in English.

2️⃣ Tener vs. Haber vs. Estar: When to Use Each

These verbs can sometimes be confusing for learners. Create a quick guide explaining:

• Tener → Possession, age, or physical states (Tengo 20 años.)
• Haber → Expressing existence (Hay un problema.)
• Estar → Location or temporary states (Está cansado.)

🔹 Why it matters: Clears up common beginner mistakes and keeps readers engaged.

3️⃣ Tener Que Infinitive Examples: Talking About Obligations

Break down how tener que + verb is used for expressing must/need to do something.

• Tengo que estudiar. (I have to study.)
• Tienes que trabajar mañana. (You have to work tomorrow.)

🔹 Why it matters: This is one of the most used Spanish phrases in everyday life.

4️⃣ Tener Ganas de + Infinitive: Expressing Desire

Explain how tener ganas de is used to express wanting to do something:

• Tengo ganas de viajar. (I feel like traveling.)
• Tienes ganas de comer pizza? (Do you feel like eating pizza?)

🔹 Why it matters: It’s a natural, conversational phrase that makes speech more fluent.

5️⃣ Funny and Common Mistakes with Tener

Highlight some hilarious mistakes learners make:
🚫 Tengo divertido (WRONG ❌)
✅ Me divierto (RIGHT ✅)

🚫 Tienes caliente (WRONG ❌ – means “You’re hot” in a weird way 😳)
✅ Tienes calor (RIGHT ✅ – You’re feeling hot)

🔹 Why it matters: Makes learning fun and keeps people reading longer (boosting SEO!).

6️⃣ Tener in Popular Spanish Songs, Movies, and TV Shows

Find song lyrics or famous movie quotes that use tener and break them down. Example:
🎶 “Tengo la camisa negra” – Juanes (I have a black shirt)

🔹 Why it matters: Cultural references keep readers interested and make learning practical.

Master More Spanish Verbs: Conjugation Guides

Now that you’ve conquered tener, why stop there? Mastering Spanish verbs is key to becoming fluent, and we’ve got you covered with detailed guides on other essential verbs. Check them out below:

🔹 Ser Conjugation Guide – Learn how to conjugate ser, the other Spanish verb for “to be,” and when to use it vs. estar.
🔹 Estar Conjugation Guide – Speaking of estar, this guide covers every tense so you can express locations, emotions, and states without a confusing textbook.
🔹 Hacer Conjugation Guide – Need to say “to do” or “to make” in Spanish? Our hacer conjugation chart breaks it all down for you.

Spanish Alphabet Deep Dive | Names, Animals, and Tongue Twisters

• The Spanish Alphabet
• The Spanish n
• The Spanish j
• The Spanish c
• The Spanish p
• The Spanish d
• The Spanish g

Other Spanish Grammar & Tener Verb Conjugation Resources

• SpanishDict – Tener Conjugation
  🔗 https://www.spanishdict.com/conjugate/tener
  (A full breakdown of tener conjugation in all tenses, plus pronunciation and usage examples.)

• WordReference – Tener Conjugation
  🔗 https://www.wordreference.com/conj/ESverbs.aspx?v=tener
  (Comprehensive conjugation tables with variations for Spain and Latin America.)

• Real Academia Española (RAE) – Tener
  🔗 https://dle.rae.es/tener
  (Official Spanish dictionary entry for “tener” with definitions and examples.)

💡 Want to level up your Spanish even more? Stay tuned for upcoming verb guides and language tips to make learning fun and easy! 🚀