Regular verbs follow a set conjugation pattern depending on their endings (i.e. -ar, -er, and -ir verbs).

On the other hand, irregular verbs like stem-changing verbs can change depending on how they are used in a sentence, and spelling-changing verbs have different consonants that help with pronunciation. Reflexive verbs show who the subject of the sentence is, and are therefore conjugated in a certain way.

Tener, or “to have”, is one of the most useful verbs you’ll learn in Spanish, and one that you’ll be very grateful for when you’re asking someone for something (especially when it comes to food!). Along with so many of the other verbs you’ve been learning, tener is also irregular. However, you’ll notice that in some tenses, it will be regular too. Confusing? We know!

You’ll be using this verb often though, so it will soon become second nature. To get started, let’s have a look at tener in the present tense, in which “yo” has an irregular stem, and there is a change from an -ie to and -e in the stem of all of the verb forms except “yo”, “nosotros”, and “vosotros”.

The Present Tense of Tener

ConjugationTranslationyo tengoI havetú tienesYou (informal) haveél/ella/ello/uno tieneHe/she/one hasusted tieneYou (formal) havenosotros tenemosWe havevosotros tenéisYou all (informal) haveellos/ellas tienenThey haveustedes tienenYou all (formal) have

The following are some examples of the verb “tener” in the present tense:

• Tengo hambre! (I am hungry!)
• ¿Tiene usted un baño? (Do you have a bathroom?)

In the table below, you’ll learn all about how tener is conjugated in the preterit or past tense. Note the lack of accent marks (compared to regular verbs) and the irregular stem (tuv-).

The Preterit Tense of Tener

ConjugationTranslationyo tuveI hadtú tuvisteYou (informal) hadél/ella/ello/uno tuvoHe/she/one hadusted tuvoYou (formal) hadnosotros tuvimosWe hadvosotros tuvisteisYou all (informal) hadellos/ellas tuvieronThey hadustedes tuvieronYou all (formal) had

Remember, this past conjugation of tener refers to having something at a specific moment in the past (i.e. this specific past tense refers to something that has been completed in the past, unlike the imperfect tense).

• Tuve mucho trabajo que hacer ayer (I had lots of work to do yesterday)
• Tuvieron una gran fiesta en su casa la semana pasada (They had a big party at their house last week)

In the imperfect tense, tener is conjugated like a normal -er verb (phew!). Pay attention to the way this tense deals with things that happened in the past but which weren’t concrete and completed actions.

The Imperfect Tense of Tener

ConjugationTranslationyo teníaI used to havetú teníasYou (informal) used to haveél/ella/ello/uno teníaHe/she/one used to haveusted teníaYou (formal) used to havenosotros teníamosWe used to havevosotros teníaisYou all (informal) used to haveellos/ellas teníanThey used to haveustedes teníanYou all (formal) used to have

To get a better sense of the imperfect tense in action, here are some examples:

• ¿Tenía muchos amigos cuando era un niño? (Did you have many friends as a child?)
• Si, tenía muchos amigos (Yes, I had many friends)

In the future tense, tener has an irregular stem (tendr-) but the endings conform to normal -er verb patterns.

The Future Tense of Tener

ConjugationTranslationyo tendréI will havetú tendrásYou (informal) will haveél/ella/ello/uno tendráHe/she/one will haveusted tendráYou (formal) will havenosotros tendremosWe will havevosotros tendréisYou all (informal) will haveellos/ellas tendránThey will haveustedes tendránYou all (formal) will have

To round things up, here are some ways you can use the future tense of tener:

• ¿Tendrán la ceremonia este fin de semana? (Will they have the ceremony this weekend?)
• Sí, tendremos mucho que hacer esta semana! (Yes, will have a lot to do this week)

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