Dive into our comprehensive guide to conjugating tener, designed to make mastering Spanish verbs easier than ever.
Our exclusive audio recordings effortlessly embed conjugations into your memory, so you can learn faster and retain more.
Covering every tense—from the simple present to the elusive subjunctive—we provide clear explanations and interactive tools to accelerate your fluency.
Table of Contents
- Learn Faster with Audio
- Introduction to Tener
- Indicative tenses of Tener
- Tener in the Indicative Present
- Tener in the Indicative Preterite
- Tener in the Indicative Imperfect
- Tener in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Tener in the Indicative Near Future
- Tener in the Indicative Future
- Tener in the Indicative Conditional
- Tener in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Tener in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Tener in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Tener in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Tener
- Imperative tenses of Tener
The Power of Audio: Master Spanish Conjugations with Ease
Tired of wrestling with Spanish verb conjugations? You’re not alone! Traditional methods often rely on rote memorization of written charts, leading to frustration and slow progress. But there’s a better way – one that’s easier, faster, and more in tune with how your brain naturally learns.
In this post, you’ll discover a unique approach that combines the power of visual and auditory learning. We provide complete conjugation charts for the verb, along with specially designed audio recordings that play the conjugations on a loop. This allows you to effortlessly absorb the patterns and rhythms of the language, embedding them directly into your memory.
Optimize Your Learning: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to experience the difference? Here’s how to maximize your learning with this page:
- Select Your Target: Choose the verb tense you want to master (e.g., present tense, preterite, imperfect).
- Engage Your Ears: Play the corresponding audio recording on a loop. Let the sounds of the conjugations wash over you.
- Activate Your Eyes: Simultaneously, follow along with the conjugation chart. This dual-sensory approach enhances your brain’s ability to encode and retain the information.
- Listen for the Flow: Continue listening until the conjugations feel like a natural, familiar melody. You’ll instinctively know when it “clicks.”
- Reinforce and Repeat: Revisit the audio and chart every few days to solidify the patterns in your long-term memory.
This method leverages your brain’s innate language learning capabilities, making memorization feel more like listening to a catchy song than a tedious study session.
With this approach, you’ll move beyond rote memorization to actually using conjugations confidently in real conversations. Say goodbye to frustration and hello to a smarter, more intuitive way to learn Spanish. Let’s begin!
Introduction to Tener
“Tener” is a Spanish verb meaning “to have.” It’s one of the most important and frequently used verbs in Spanish, used not only to express possession but also in many idiomatic expressions and to describe states of being.
| Infinitive | Past Participle | Gerund |
|---|---|---|
| tener | tenido | teniendo |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
Example Sentences:
- Past Participle
He tenido muchos libros. I have had many books. - Gerund
Estoy teniendo un buen día. I am having a good day.
Indicative tenses of Tener
The indicative mood in Spanish is all about reality. When you use an indicative tense, you’re stating a fact, making an observation, or describing an event you believe to be true. This mood has a wide range of tenses that allow you to express yourself across different time frames, from the past to the present and into the future.
Tener in the Indicative Present
The present indicative tense of tener (to have) is used to talk about actions happening now, habits, routines, and general truths.
For example: Tengo un libro nuevo. (I have a new book.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tengo |
| Tú | tienes |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tiene |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tenemos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tenéis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tienen |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Preterite
The preterite tense of tener is used to talk about completed actions in the past. Think of it as the tense for actions that have a clear beginning and end.
For example: Tuve una buena idea. (I had a good idea.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tuve |
| Tú | tuviste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tuvo |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tuvimos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tuvisteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tuvieron |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Preterite Simple, Preterite Tense, or Past Definite in English, and as Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Simple, or Tiempo Pasado in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Imperfect
The imperfect tense of tener takes us back to the past, but with a different perspective than the preterite. It describes actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past, with no specific end point.
For example, Tenía muchos amigos en la escuela. (I used to have many friends at school.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tenía |
| Tú | tenías |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tenía |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | teníamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | teníais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tenían |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Imperfect tense is also known as the Imperfect Tense, Past Imperfect, or Imperfective Past in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Tiempo Imperfecto in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Present Continuous
The present continuous tense of tener describes an action that is in progress right now. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action.
For example: Estoy teniendo problemas con mi computadora. (I am having problems with my computer.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | estoy teniendo |
| Tú | estás teniendo |
| Él / Ella / Usted | está teniendo |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | estamos teniendo |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | estáis teniendo |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | están teniendo |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present Continuous tense is also known as the Present Progressive, Continuous Present, or Progressive Present in English, and as Presente Continuo, Presente Progresivo, or Progresivo de Indicativo in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Near Future
The near future tense of tener expresses actions that will happen in the very near future. It often emphasizes the speaker’s intention or certainty.
For example: Voy a tener un bebé en marzo. (I am going to have a baby in March.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy a tener |
| Tú | vas a tener |
| Él / Ella / Usted | va a tener |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | vamos a tener |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | vais a tener |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | van a tener |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Near Future tense is also known as the Immediate Future, Simple Future (colloquial use), or Informal Future in English, and as Futuro Próximo, Futuro Cercano, or Ir a + Infinitivo in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Future
The future tense of tener expresses actions that will occur in the future. It’s a more formal way to talk about future plans or predictions.
For example: Tendré más tiempo libre el próximo mes. (I will have more free time next month.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tendré |
| Tú | tendrás |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tendrá |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tendremos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tendréis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tendrán |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Future tense is also known as the Simple Future, Future Simple, or Future Tense in English, and as Futuro Simple, Futuro de Indicativo, or Tiempo Futuro in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Conditional
The conditional tense of tener is used to talk about hypothetical situations or actions that would happen under certain conditions. It often translates to “would have” in English.
For example: Tendría más dinero si trabajara más horas. (I would have more money if I worked more hours.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tendría |
| Tú | tendrías |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tendría |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tendríamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tendríais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tendrían |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Conditional tense is also known as the Conditional Tense, Present Conditional, or Simple Conditional in English, and as Condicional Simple, Condicional de Indicativo, or Tiempo Condicional in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Present Perfect
The present perfect tense of tener is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or have a result that is relevant to the present.
For example: He tenido muchas experiencias interesantes. (I have had many interesting experiences.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | he tenido |
| Tú | has tenido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | ha tenido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hemos tenido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habéis tenido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | han tenido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present Perfect tense is also known as the Present Perfect, Perfect Present, or Compound Past in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto, Perfecto de Indicativo, or Presente Perfecto in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Past Perfect
The past perfect tense of tener is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past.
For example: Había tenido un mal día antes de recibir la buena noticia. (I had had a bad day before receiving the good news.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | había tenido |
| Tú | habías tenido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | había tenido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habíamos tenido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habíais tenido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habían tenido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Past Perfect tense is also known as the Pluperfect, Past Perfect, or Compound Past Perfect in English, and as Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto, Pluscuamperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Perfecto in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Future Perfect
The future perfect tense of tener describes an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future.
For example: Habré tenido suficiente tiempo para terminar el proyecto. (I will have had enough time to finish the project.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | habré tenido |
| Tú | habrás tenido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habrá tenido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habremos tenido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habréis tenido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habrán tenido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Future Perfect tense is also known as the Future Perfect or Compound Future in English, and as Futuro Perfecto, Perfecto de Futuro, or Futuro Compuesto in Spanish.
Tener in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The conditional perfect of tener is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past, something that would have happened if a different condition had been met. It often translates to “would have had” in English.
For example: Habría tenido más éxito si hubiera trabajado más duro. (I would have had more success if I had worked harder.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | habría tenido |
| Tú | habrías tenido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habría tenido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habríamos tenido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habríais tenido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habrían tenido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Conditional Perfect tense is also known as the Perfect Conditional or Compound Conditional in English, and as Condicional Perfecto, Perfecto de Condicional, or Condicional Compuesto in Spanish.
Subjunctive tenses of Tener
The subjunctive mood in Spanish might seem a bit mysterious at first, but it’s all about expressing subjectivity. Instead of stating cold, hard facts, you use the subjunctive to talk about desires, doubts, emotions, and possibilities. Think of it as the mood of uncertainty, where things are wished for, doubted, or influenced by opinions and feelings.
Tener in the Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive of tener is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and possibilities in the present or future. It often follows verbs or phrases that indicate subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Espero que tengas un buen día. (I hope you have a good day.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tenga |
| Tú | tengas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tenga |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tengamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tengáis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tengan |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Present tense is also known as the Present Subjunctive or Simple Present Subjunctive in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo or Subjuntivo Presente in Spanish.
Tener in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive of tener is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and possibilities in the past, or in hypothetical situations. It often follows verbs or phrases that indicate subjectivity or uncertainty in the past tense.
For example: Dudaba que tuviera suficiente dinero. (I doubted that he/she would have enough money.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tuviera |
| Tú | tuvieras |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tuviera |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tuviéramos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tuvierais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tuvieran |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Imperfect tense is also known as the Imperfect Subjunctive or Past Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, or Subjuntivo Pasado in Spanish.
Tener in the Future Subjunctive
The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish, but it’s good to be aware of it! It expresses a hypothetical action in the future with a high degree of uncertainty.
For example: Si tuviere la oportunidad, lo haré. (If I should have the opportunity, I will do it.)
You’ll likely encounter this tense more in literature or legal texts than in everyday conversation.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | tuviere |
| Tú | tuvieres |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tuviere |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tuviéremos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tuviereis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tuvieren |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Future tense is also known as the Future Subjunctive or Simple Future Subjunctive in English, and as Futuro de Subjuntivo or Subjuntivo Futuro in Spanish.
Tener in the Present Perfect Subjunctive
The present perfect subjunctive of tener is used to express actions that are completed in relation to the present or future, but with some element of subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Me alegra que hayas tenido éxito. (I’m glad that you have had success.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | haya tenido |
| Tú | hayas tenido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | haya tenido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hayamos tenido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hayáis tenido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hayan tenido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Present Perfect tense is also known as the Perfect Subjunctive or Present Perfect Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo or Perfecto de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Tener in the Past Perfect Subjunctive
The past perfect subjunctive of tener is used to express actions that were completed before another action in the past, but with some element of subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Dudaba que hubiera tenido tiempo suficiente. (I doubted that he/she had had enough time.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera tenido |
| Tú | hubieras tenido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hubiera tenido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hubiéramos tenido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hubierais tenido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hubieran tenido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Past Perfect tense is also known as the Pluperfect Subjunctive, Past Perfect Subjunctive, or Compound Past Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo or Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Tener in the Future Perfect Subjunctive
Like the future subjunctive, the future perfect subjunctive is very rare in modern Spanish. It expresses a hypothetical action that will have been completed before a certain point in the future.
For example: Cuando hubiere tenido el dinero, te pagaré. (When I have had the money, I will pay you.)
It’s more likely to be found in legal documents or older literature than in everyday speech. Most speakers would use other tenses to express this idea.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere tenido |
| Tú | hubieres tenido |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hubiere tenido |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hubiéremos tenido |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hubiereis tenido |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hubieren tenido |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Future Perfect tense is also known as the Future Perfect Subjunctive or Compound Future Subjunctive in English, and as Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo or Perfecto de Futuro de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Imperative tenses of Tener
The imperative mood in Spanish is all about getting things done! It’s the mood of commands, requests, and instructions. When you use the imperative, you’re telling someone to do something, offering advice, or even expressing a strong wish. Want to tell someone to have patience, have respect, or have care? The imperative is your go-to mood.
Tener in the Imperative Affirmative
The affirmative imperative of tener is used to give commands or instructions to have something.
For example: ¡Ten paciencia! (Have patience!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | ten |
| Él / Ella / Usted | tenga |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | tengamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | tened |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | tengan |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Imperative Affirmative tense is also known as the Positive Imperative or Affirmative Command in English, and as Imperativo Afirmativo or Mandato Afirmativo in Spanish.
Tener in the Imperative Negative
The negative imperative of tener is used to give commands or instructions not to have something.
For example: ¡No tengas miedo! (Don’t have fear!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | no tengas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | no tenga |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | no tengamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | no tengáis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | no tengan |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Imperative Negative tense is also known as the Negative Imperative or Negative Command in English, and as Imperativo Negativo or Mandato Negativo in Spanish.