Tengo que enviar una tarjeta

Question

In the example sentence:

Tengo que enviar una tarjeta a mi abuela para la Navidad. - I have to send a card to my grandmother for Christmas.

What purpose does the "que" serve? Would omitting it and simply saying "Tengo enviar una tarjeta..." be acceptable as well?

Jacob, I had to change the title, word of th e day is a thread.... - 00494d19, Jan 18, 2010

Thanks. I'll remember that in the future. - jacob4408, Jan 18, 2010

Answer 1

You cannot omit que. Yo tengo... ¿qué tienes? Yo tengo que enviar una tarjeta... "Que" es una conjunción: Categoría invariable que relaciona frases u oraciones.

Answer 2

HI jacob, this is easy: the verb is tener que

tener que hacer algo.

so the que is part of the verb.

Answer 3

Many situations like my current one...

Si voy a ir de vacaciones a Madrid próximo otoño, tengo que aprender a bailar salsa mejor y tengo que aprender mas español!

el español (it is separated from aprender) - 0074b507, Jan 19, 2010

Answer 4

Can tener que be used in both these ways also?

Yep! That's a pretty good expression to learn to use. It'll come in handy in lot's of situations.

muchas gracias - jacob4408, Jan 18, 2010

Answer 5

In English we use the phrase "have to" to mean both "obligated or required" and "desire"

• I have to pay taxes. (requirement)
• I have to buy the new Alex Ubago CD. (desire)

Can tener que be used in both these ways also?

Answer 6

So...

• tener = to have
• tener que = to have to

Got it. Thanks.