I'm confused over a test question involving 'que'.

Question

I am in a class called Intensive Beginner Spanish and we just had our first quiz. There was an item where we had to pick the right verb to complete a sentence. It read "La abuela __________ que ir al medico." I was supposed to use 'tiene' but the 'que' threw me off. I have looked it up but I can't make it fit with all the information on 'que' that I find.

Bienvenida al foro. Welcome to the forum. - 0074b507, Sep 22, 2010

Answer 1

I can understand your concern This is because tener is used in a number of different ways;

1. Tener is the principal verb meaning' to have' and as such denotes possession

por ejemplo: Tiene un perro = He has a dog

2 'Tener que' means: to have to (infinitive verb form)

Por ejemplo: Tengo que ir a la casa de mis padres ahora = I have to go to the doctor, now = I have to go to my parents house now

que (without an accent) can mean= that

Qué as in ... ¿Qué haces? (With an accent) means = what? What are you doing?

However, as shown above it has a more idiomatic use when used with tener in tener que

I hope this helps

Thank you Feliz that has made it very clear to me , you are a good teacher. - ray76, Sep 23, 2010

gets my vote. - ray76, Sep 23, 2010

Thx Ray :) I only hope it also helped Ann who asked the question as much as it helped you my friiend :) - FELIZ77, Sep 23, 2010

correction of typo : friend - FELIZ77, Sep 23, 2010

I thought you meant Fiend, hahahahah. - ray76, Sep 23, 2010

Answer 2

Well it's rather straightforward. "Tener que" is a Spanish expression, it means "to have to (do something)". So when you use it in that sentence it becomes: "La abuela tiene que ir al medico". If you wanted to say "he had to stop for a moment" you'd say "tuvo que parar un momento".

Answer 3

I learnt "to have to" as "must".

Tengo que - I have to, or I must.

Tienes que - you have to, or you must.

Tiene que - he/she has to, or he/she must.

But I'm no expert.

Yes you are correct :) Good answer :) - FELIZ77, Sep 30, 2010

Answer 4

this thread may be helpful

Answer 5

Muchas gracias to all the fine answers. You have all been a great help and it makes much more sense now.

You are most welcome dear child. - ray76, Sep 23, 2010