"ten calma" or "tengas calma"

Question

I am trying to say, "be calm." When I was watching a drama in Spanish, the phrase "ten calma" was used. When I tried to use the phrase today in speaking to my son (I forgot which form of tener to use), my son's friend from Colombia told me I could say "tengas calma." So now I'm confused!

Answer 1

Hey Jennivee,

Not that you are still looking for an answer after almost 3 years, but here it is:

Both are correct and mean "be careful"; use the one that corresponds with your relationship with the person you are addressing.

Tenga is formal (usted)

Ten is familiar (tú)

Have a tequila on me, I think we may as well calm down. - annierats, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 2

If you've still got this problem, after 3 years, take the Tequila otion, for yourself. Your son may now be old enough to respond to it to.

Cálmate, mujer, cálmate.

Answer 3

HI jennie, I hope you have been welcomed already, I can see you are fairly new to the site

Ten clama is the correct choice.

You can say "Que tengas calma". But this form is used when you want to emphasise :

I told you to be...

Te dije que tengas calma.

Thank you for the nice welcome. I greatly appreciate the help! - Jennivee, Nov 7, 2009

Answer 4

"Ten calma" is in the imperative mood, so it is a command. "Tenga calma" is in the subjuctive mood, so it is a recommendation.

?? one is informal and one is formal imperative (though it can also be subjunctive) - 0074b507, Nov 7, 2009

Answer 5

In España dicen "No seas burro" literally don't be donkey.But it is what you would say to calm someone younger down who is over excited and tranquilo/a as Ken already said.

Answer 6

Ok, so I am thinking that it depends on the situation? Like, if I'm talking more from my point of view- talking about what I hope for or want someone to do- I would say "Quiero que tengas calma." This would have made sense in the situation because it was not urgent that my son calm down. However, if my son had been in hysterics or about get into trouble or something, a better choice would be "Ten calma" with exclamations maybe? Or, maybe I am understanding this incorrectly still, and I should generally just say "ten calma."

Answer 7

The first is the subjunctive form of "tener", which means that your are expressing a wish, desire, hope, etc. "Tengas" is the familiar 2nd person present tense. In your example, you might say "Quiero que tengas calma." "Quiero que" can be implied. "I hope that you calm down/be calm".

The use us "ten" is the imperative form - more of a command or directive. Also 2nd person. "¡Ten calma!" - "Be calm!" or "Calm down!"

Click on the "More" button, then "conjugation". Type in "tener" to see all of the forms of this verb.

In "quiero que tengas"... tengas is 2nd person subjunctive. :) - viejito, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 8

A common way to tell someone to calm down is !Tranquila, tranquila¡

And I always thought it was tequila, tequila!! :) - Jason7R, Nov 7, 2009

Yes, 'tranquila' if that someone is female. Tranquilo if it's a male :P - InésDelRío, Nov 7, 2009

Answer 9

Ten and Tengas are both used in 2nd person familiar of the imperative.

The answer is found in "when"to use "which".

In a direct affirmative imperative command... "Ten" is used.

In a negative imperative command following "no"...Tengas is used.

¡Ten un buen día! Have a good day!

¡No tengas buen día! Don't have a good day!

Hope this helps..

Ten calma - be calm. No tengas calma - don't be calm. :) - viejito, Jul 24, 2012

The speaker could say, "Que tenga un buen día¨ as well though yeah? It´s the Ud form. - degrazia, Jul 24, 2012