"Tenemos que"

Question

When I'm trying to say "We have to do something", for example: "We have to protect the animals", why do I have to say "tenemos que"?

For my example, I believe the correct translation is "Tenemos que proteger los animales".

I don't understand where the "que" comes from.

Gracias!

• It comes from convention. - Malenor Nov 28, 2009
• Best answer yet, Malenor. - webdunce Dec 2, 2009

Answer 1

"Tener que" is a very common phrase that means a person "has to" do something.

Don't try to understand the individual parts. It's a phrase. Learn it that way.

Answer 2

HI Zack, welcome to the forum

Tener que...

same as

have to...

Now why do you need to put the extra to with the verb have? Well, for the same reason you have to use in this case que with tener

• Thank you for your answer and the welcome : ) - eZACke Nov 28, 2009
• Just a fine point...our construction is "have + infinitive" so the "to" is part of the infinitive. (It's actually the "have" part that I don't understand). - webdunce Dec 2, 2009

Answer 3

Como dice Goyo "es una frase, no hay como comprenderla por partes."

Al igual que si me pongo a entender por partes no le hayo sentido. Por ejemplo:

"What is he like?" in spanish "¿Como es él?"

Pero si me pongo a entenderla por partes sería así: ""Que esté el querer? o ¿Cómo es el gustar?, jamás le hayaria sentido.

Espero haberte ayudado y bienvenido al foro.

• Actually, that like is not a verb...so word for word in Spanish it would be "¿Qué está él como?" - webdunce Dec 2, 2009
• "Qué está él querer" word for word is "What is he to want" - webdunce Dec 2, 2009

Answer 4

"we have to" is translated into Spanish as "tenemos que" as in English we put the beginning of the sentence.

Answer 5

probably derived from the Latin "ut" meaning in order to preceed a clause

• No lo creo. - EdiOswaldo Nov 28, 2009