How do haber and tener differ?
How do haber and tener differ?
6 Answers
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.
Good question. Basically, haber is an auxillary verb and is used with participles to form more complex tenses. Tener is more of a possesion verb saying you posses something. Of course there are more complex uses for the verbs as well.
No he visto a mi hermano. I have not seen my brother. (He is a conjugated verb form of haber)
Tengo mi libro de historia. I possess my history book.)
If you take some lessons on this site im sure they will help you out more. 
Advice from Spanish language learner.
I was told that "haber" is being used as "have" in the past tenses.
I had been reading untill he came. = Había (the past time of haber) estado leyendo hasta que llegó.
"Tener" for all the rest cases.
I have a wish = Tengo un deseo.
If I am wrong natives will correct me 
OK.
To have = Haber/tener
I have to have it = he de/tengo que tenerlo
I have it = Lo tengo
There is = Hay
There are = Hay
There was = Hubo/había
There were = Había
You have to practice a lot reading and writing these forms, so that you can apply them correctly.
Tener is the principal verb ''to have'' in Spanish meaning :'' to possess/own'' something.
eg Tengo una casa grande = I have a large house...or
Tengo un perro/una perra = I have a dog (male/female dog)
The verb Tener can also be used to form the construction ''Tener que = infinitive
eg: Tengo que dar de comer al perro = I have to/must feed the dog
Tenemos que coger (tomar*) el tren para ir a trabajo.
= We have to catch/take a train to go to work. (The verb tomar is used in Mexico and some other countries instead of coger!)
Haber is an auxilliary verb meaning ''to have'' and is used, for example, when:
1 You want to say: There is/are. eg: Hay mucha gente en la plaza
= There are many people in the square..
or when you want to say there were ..... Había mucha gente en la plaza
= There were many people in the square.
2 You need to form more complex compound verb constructions:
eg: Yo debería haberle llamado por teléfono, anoche = I should have called her by telephone, last night
These are just a few of the different ways in which the verbs tener and haber differ in the way that they are used.
I hope this helps
Corrijan mi español, por favor
Tener - you literally have it
haber - figurative have it
