Haber and tener are two important verbs in Spanish that can sometimes be confusing because they both relate to the idea of "having" in English. However, they are used in different ways and contexts. Here’s how to understand and use them correctly.
Haber
Haber is mainly used as an auxiliary verb and to mean "there is" / "there are."
Auxiliary Verb
- Haber is used to form the perfect tenses (e.g., he comido = "I have eaten").
- It does not mean possession in this case; it helps indicate that an action has been completed.
Impersonal Form: Hay
- The most common form is hay (from haber), which means "there is" or "there are."
- It is used to say that something exists or is present.
- Example: Hay un libro en la mesa. = "There is a book on the table."
Other Forms
- Había = "there was" / "there were" (imperfect tense)
- Hubo = "there was" / "there were" (preterite tense)
Key Expressions
- Hay que + [infinitive] = "one must" / "it is necessary to"
- Example: Hay que estudiar para el examen. = "One must study for the exam."
| Spanish Expression |
|---|
| Tener que + [infinitive] |
| English Translation |
Tener
Tener means "to have" in the sense of possessing something or experiencing a condition.
Possession
- Use tener to talk about owning or having things (objects, family members, etc.).
- Example: Tengo un coche nuevo. = "I have a new car."
Age
- Tener is used to express age.
- Example: Tengo veinte años. = "I am twenty years old."
Feelings and States
- Tener is used in many common expressions to describe feelings, sensations, or states, often followed by tener + noun.
- Examples:
- Tener hambre = to be hungry
- Tener frío = to be cold
- Tener miedo = to be afraid
Key Expressions
- Example: Tengo que trabajar mañana. = "I have to work tomorrow."
| Spanish Expression |
|---|
| Tener que + [infinitive] |
| English Translation |
Summary
Haber focuses on existence and grammatical functions, while tener deals with possession and personal conditions.
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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025