" Hay que o tener que "

Question

¿ Cuando es lo más correcto usar lo uno o lo otro ?

When is it most correct to use the one or the other ?

Answer 1

Well, it depends on the context.

Hay que means it is necessary /one must;it is a generalised term when u are not referring to someone in particular:

Hay que estudiar mucho antes del examen---It's necessary to study a lot before the exam

But Tener que is more personalised expression

**Tú tienes que estudiar ahora---You must/have to study now.

Hope it's clear now.Right?

:) - ian-hill, May 24, 2013

Thanks a lot friends for the confirmation on what I thought the difference is. - britisk, May 24, 2013

Answer 2

Both can be used impersonally. The difference is hay que requires no conjugation and it´s always impersonal. Tener que must be conjugated, ie: Tú tienes que ........ (personal) or Se tiene que ....... (impersonal).

Thanks Julian. Yes I understood that. What I really needed was the difference in use between the two. Muchas gracias! - britisk, May 24, 2013

"hay que" and "se tiene que" are the same. The choice between the two is personal preference, although I would say "hay que" is more common - 005faa61, May 25, 2013

Answer 3

Hay que means "someone should do something, and Tengo que mean that You (I) have to do something.

And thanks to you too probricua. - britisk, May 24, 2013

Answer 4

Hay que,is like "someone,(anybody-not specific) should" do something.While tener que is more like "someone ,(specifcally) has to" do something, e.g Tengo que mucho hacer- I have a lot to do.

Thanks for your good explanation! - britisk, May 24, 2013