What form of "tener" should I use...?

Question

I am trying to say:

"I always drove my parents car before I had my driver's license."

What form of TENER should I use?? -tenía? OR -tuviera?

Thank you so much!!!

**Also, why is the translator telling me to use "llevó" for drove??

Answer 1

I would use the infinitive - Yo siempre conducía el coche de mis padres antes de conseguir mi licencia.

There are a variety of regional ways to say drive or license, but I think the crux of the biscuit is the antes de + infinitive = before having/getting.

These things sometimes don't translate word-for-word.

Answer 2

I would tend to use the verb: "soler": to usually do, be accustomed to.

"Siempre solía manejar/conducir el coche/el carro de mis padres antes de conseguir mi carnet de manejar/conducir"

I believe manejaba means the same thing as solia manejar. But I think the main issue here is where you used conseguir staract88 wants to use a form of tener. - fatchocobo, Aug 10, 2010

I agree that the antes de + infinitive is the key. - KevinB, Aug 10, 2010

Answer 3

You shouldn't use "tenía" as someone said here, you must use the infinitive of the verb "tener", "tenía" is past sentence, "tuiviera" is conditional (think we use it as present and future sentence, but as usual it depends on the context)

tuviera is imperfect subjunctive - fatchocobo, Aug 11, 2010

Answer 4

Tenía

Answer 5

I would use tenía. I see no reason to use the subjunctive here.

The verb llevar can be translated as taking something from one place to another.