What is the difference in meaning between haber and tener?

Question

How does one know when to use haber or tener?

Answer 1

Tener really means to have, as in to posess, or to have to do something.

Tengo un libro - I have a book.
Ella tiene que irse ahora - She has to leave now.

Haber only means to have when used in compound tenses, like

I have been to Rome - He estado en Roma.

Haber also means something like to exist, as in there is or there are:

There is much work - Hay mucha tarea.

Edit: Just to add to the confusion, haber can also be used to mean to have to do something, but in an impersonal way:

One must (it is necessary to) go to school - Hay que ir a la escuela
I have to go to school - Tengo que ir a la escuela

Kevin, "Ella tiene que ir ahora", without further clarification, is plain wrong in Spanish. Know why? - lazarus1907, Aug 19, 2010

Other than the fact that you wouldn't normally need the ella, no, I don't know. What am I missing? - KevinB, Aug 19, 2010

irse - samdie, Aug 19, 2010

I wondered about that. Thanks. - KevinB, Aug 19, 2010

Answer 2

Welcome to Spanishdict

Spanish has 2 verbs for "to have" - "tener" and "haber"

Have a look in the "conjugation" section under "more" above.

You will learn a lot there.

PS have a look for "tener que" too = the English verb "to have to"

Answer 3

"Have" can be used with many different meanings ,in English. Do no assume that all of those meaning will be translated by the same verb in any other language. "I have a pencil" (simple possession), "I have to go now." (need to am compelled to), "I have been to Madrid." (helping verb for compound tenses). Despite the difference in meanings, English can use "have" for all of these expressions It is, however, utter nonsense to assume that all languages (or any particular language) will choose to express such unrelated ideas in the same way (with the same verb).

Answer 4

To explain it simply, "tener" is "to have", like as in to possess something. Like to have a book, "tengo un libro." Haber is used to express the thought "I have to leave now", "she'll have to think about it", "he doesn't have to go to school" etc.

I hope that helps!

Tener can be used for having to do something, too - Tengo que ir ahora. - KevinB, Aug 19, 2010