Using que in phrases

Question

Why does one use que in phrases such as tengo que leer and tengo que irme? Doesn't que mean that? So would one really be meaning I have that to read and I have that to leave?

Answer 1

Tener que is a set phrase that you can't translate literally, it just means 'to have to'.

It's a handy one as once you have conjugated tener and added the que you can follow it with any infinitive.

Me tengo que ir. I have to go.

Tienes que comerlo. You have to eat it. Etc

Great answer. I am a relatively new Spanish learner. This made better sense. I am using the Pimseuler approach to learning Spanish which doesn't include any whys to phrases. Thanks! - KimbellK, May 26, 2013

Glad it helped :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 26, 2013

Answer 2

Check out this link. Que is a very important word in Spanish with a myriad of different usages.

Thanks. It makes more sense now. - KimbellK, May 26, 2013