What is the difference between 'tener' and 'haber'?

Question

Both 'tener' and 'haber' mean "to have". Which one do you use in which situations? Are there contextual indicators? Or is it a matter of just feeling out which one sounds right?

Answer 1

Haber is not easily explained. One thing though is that it is not used in the sense of "to have as in to possess". To have as in to possess is the verb "tener".

Here is a link to another learning site and it's explanation of the uses of the verb haber. Follow this link ----> Using Haber

Haber is often thought of as an auxilliary or helping verb. It is also found in idiomatic uses like "hay" as in there is (exists) or there are (exists).

Tener tends to be the verb used to indicate ownership or posession. It is a whole other class of verb and a whole other study.

Answer 2

Haber is a peculiar verb. Yes, it is used principally as an auxilliary verb, however here in Honduras it is also used frequently in place of tener, indicating physical possession. I am most accustomed to hearing it used in the imperfect tense, había. For example, if some one went to the store in search of something, and they didn't have any, people here will most often say, "no había". I am not entirely sure how grammatically correct that usage is, but it is common.

I found Jesss's comments about Honduras rather interesting and then I thought about it for a moment. Essentially, "hay" means "there is" and "no hay" means "there isn't." Likewise, "había" can mean "there was" and "no había" can mean "there wasn't." - LISA4DUOLINGO, May 24, 2016

I can see why Jesss questioned the grammatical correctness of it though. Still, good to know. TY for sharing, Jesss. - LISA4DUOLINGO, May 24, 2016

Answer 3

Tener is the principal verb meaning 'to have' and denotes ownership or possession

For example:

Tengo un lápiz = I have a pencil

Tiene un perro = She has a dog

Tienen buenos amigos = They have good friends.

'Haber'. is an auxiliary verb: also meaning 'to have,' which is used to support the main verb tener and other verbs such as ser (to be ) in compound tenses.

For example:

1 María llegará manaña y habré terminado mi trabajo (using Future Perfect)

= Maria will arrive tomorrow and I will (shall) have finished my work

2 Después que hubo hablado, salió (using Preterite Perfect)

= After he had spoken, he left

Source: Examples courtesy of Barron's 501 Spanish verbs by Christopher Kendris

I hope this helps

Answer 4

Tener means actual possession. Haber is an auxiliary, it's meaningless without being attached to another verb.

Yes, very true :) - FELIZ77, Nov 19, 2010