3.

4 Present tense of tener and venir

ANTE TODO
The verbs tener (to have) and venir (to come) are
among the most frequently used in Spanish.
Because most of their forms are irregular, you will
have to learn each one individually.

The endings are the same as those of regular

er and ir verbs, except for the yo forms,
which are irregular: tengo, vengo.

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

tener

venir

tengo
tienes
tiene

vengo
vienes
viene

tenemos
tenis
tienen

venimos
vens
vienen

SINGULAR FORMS

yo
t
Ud. / l / ella
PLURAL FORMS

nosotros/as
vosotros/as
Uds. / ellos / ellas

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

In the t, l/ella/usted, and ellos/ellas/ustedes forms,
the e of the stem changes to ie as shown below.
INFINITIVE

VERB STEM

VERB FORM

tener

ten-

t
l / ella / Ud.
ellos / ellas / Uds.

tienes
tiene
tienen

venir

ven-

t
l / ella / Ud.
ellos / ellas / Uds.

vienes
viene
vienen

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

The nosotros and vosotros forms are the only ones
which are regular. Compare them to the forms of comer
and escribir that you already learned.

nosotros/as
vosotros/as

tener
tenemos
tenis

comer
comemos
comis

nosotros/as
vosotros/as

venir
venimos
vens

escribir
escribimos
escribs

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

Expressions with tener
tener aos to be years old
tener (mucho) calor to be (very) hot

tener (mucho) cuidado to be (very) careful

tener (mucho) fro to be (very) cold
tener (mucha) hambre to be (very) hungry
tener (mucho) miedo (de) to be (very) afraid (of)

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

Expressions with tener
tener (mucha) prisa to be in a (big) hurry

tener razn to be right

no tener razn to be wrong
tener (mucha) sed to be (very) thirsty

tener (mucho) sueo to be (very) sleepy

tener (mucha) suerte to be (very) lucky

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

In certain idiomatic or set expressions in Spanish, you
use the construction tener + [noun] to express to be +
[adjective]. The above list contains a list of the most
common expressions with tener.
Tienen hambre ustedes?
Are you hungry?

S, y tenemos sed tambin.

Yes, and were thirsty, too.

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

To express an obligation, use tener que (to have to) +
[infinitive].
Qu tienes que estudiar hoy?
What do you have to study today?

Tengo que estudiar biologa.

I have to study biology.

To ask people if they feel like doing something, use tener

ganas de (to feel like) + [infinitive].
Tienes ganas de comer?
Do you feel like eating?

No, tengo ganas de dormir.

No, I feel like sleeping.

3.4 Present tense of tener and venir

INTNTALO! Provide the appropriate forms of tener and venir.
tener
1. Ellos ___dos hermanos.
2. Yo ___una hermana.
3. El artista ___ tres primos.
4. Nosotros ___ diez tos.
5. Eva y Diana ___ un sobrino.
6. Usted ___ cinco nietos.
7. T ___ dos hermanastras.
8. Ustedes ___ cuatro hijos.
9. Ella ___ una hija.

venir
1. Mis padres ___ de Mxico.
2. T ___ de Espaa.
3. Nosotras ___ de Cuba.
4. Pepe ___ de Italia.
5. Yo ___ de Francia.
6. Ustedes ___ del Canad.
7. Alfonso y yo ___ de Portugal.
8. Ellos ___ de Alemania.
9. Usted ___ de Venezuela.