Can someone help explain the use of "que" in this sentence

Question

I have to go-Tengo que ir.

Why not just Tengo Ir? I thought que means "what"? and in other cases "that". I am a newbie at this. Thanks in advance for any help.

See below for my late answer. Write if you need more info. - Jubilado, Aug 24, 2012

Answer 1

Just in case it is not clear yet.

Tengo que comes from the verb "tener que"

Just like English has "have" and "have to"

Precisely, said TwoFlower. Sorry, reading Discworld while learning French. Wish I'd done it while learning Spanish. - Vikingo, Aug 22, 2012

Answer 2

Tener que is a construction that means to have to:

Tengo que ir = I have to go

Answer 3

Que and qué are not the same .

Que comes from tengo que and qué its used when you want to ask "what"

Examples :

Tengo que llegar temprano (I must to arrive sooner) ¿Qué hora es ? (What time is it?)

Wow!! thanks I didn't notice that they are actually two different words. - bfpsu, Aug 24, 2012

Answer 4

Thanks I didn't realize that tengo que=Have to. I looked up what verbal periphrasis meant and see there are many other common examples such as Venir+a=To come to do something.

Thanks for the help but now tengo que ir.

Answer 5

Tengo que ir is the first person of the verbal periphrasis tener que ir.The verbal periphrasis tener que + infinitiv expresses a obligation.:

Tener que + infinitive = Must + infinitive, to have to + infinitive

In this case QUE doesn't mean anything.The periphrasis is a verbal unit

Tengo que ir es la primera persona de la perífrasis verbal tener que + infinitivo. La perífrasis verbal expresa a una obligacíon:

Tener que + infinitive = Must + infinitive, to have to + infinitive

En este caso QUE no semnifica algo.La perífrasis es una unidad verbal

Answer 6

I agree with diagonx.

Also, imagine the difference between "I have a cat", and "I have to go". In the first place, you "own" a cat, in the second "have to" signifies an obligation on your part. Spanish makes it clear by using "tener que".

In part, I want to say that "this is just how languages work", etc. But let's use our imagination a bit. Couldn't "tengo ir" mean, for example, that you have the ability to walk in general? Tengo humanidad, I have humanity; tengo prisa, "I have hurry?", well.. can you imagine you "having hurry", and that being a natural way of expressing it?

Anyway, good luck with your studies, asking the question that you did shows the right frame, and I hope my answer made some sense, at least.

Take care.