tener + noun = to be + adjective

Question

So far I have learned the following phrases, all of which include the word “tener”.

tener calor (to be hot)

tener frío (to be cold)

tener hambre (to be hungry)

tener sed (to be thirsty)

tener ~ año(s) (to be ~ year(s) old)

I would like to know what other common phrases with the form of “tener + noun” mean “to be + adjective” actually. Please tell me the phrases and their example sentences. Thanks!

Wow. You got a lot of great responses to this one. I am impressed. What a great review. - gringojrf, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 1

This is very common in Spanish.

They Have things that English speakers Are. (be)

I´ll add a couple, plus a link, to the good ones you´ve aleady received.

tener ganas

To be desirous of doing something. To feel like doing something.

tener sueño. to be sleepy.

Here are some more.

enter link description here

Hola, Roger. The link you direct me to look at is very useful and complete. That's exactly what I want to get. Muchas gracias por tu ayuda! I wish I could give you five votes at a time! - joygogo, Nov 11, 2013

Great link. That website is very good. - 0095ca4c, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 2

No tiene sentido. It doesn't make sense. No tiene caso. There's no point No tiene ni pies ni cabeza. I can not make heads or tails of it. No tiene idea. he doesn't have a clue.

Hola, Hungerford. Although you missed my point, I still learn something new from your reply. Thank you very much! - joygogo, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 3

tener miedo ( to be afraid)

Thanks! - joygogo, Nov 12, 2013

Answer 4

tener cariño, to be fond of

tener celos, to be jealous of

tener cuidado, to be careful

tener la culpa, to be guilty or at fault

tener derecho, to have the right

tener éxito, to be successful

tener ilusión, to be enthusiastic

Wow! Fantastic! Muchas gracias! - joygogo, Nov 11, 2013

De nada :) - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 11, 2013

Yes. Ten cuidado is extremely common. - gringojrf, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 5

tener vergüenza = to be ashamed tener prisa = to be in a hurry tener razón = to be correct

Great! Many thanks! - joygogo, Nov 11, 2013

Good ones, Scratch. - annierats, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 6

Tener harto = to be sick and tired of it (fed up)

Hola, gringo. After looking up the dictionary, I found "harto" is an adjective, not a noun. But I got two example sentences: - joygogo, Nov 11, 2013

me tiene harto con el piano (I'm fed up of him and his piano); estoy harto de repetírtelo (I'm sick and tired of telling you). - joygogo, Nov 11, 2013

Answer 7

tener suerte - to be lucky

tener fe - to have faith

tener confianza -- to have confidence in

mantener la ilusión - to keep the dream alive

Sory, I'm diverging slightly, everybody has chipped in so many good ones. - annierats, Nov 11, 2013

Thank you very much! I learn a lot from your answer! - joygogo, Nov 12, 2013

Answer 8

These are awesome examples!

I'd just like to remind everyone that if the subject changes, it's a tip-off to use the subjunctive.

For example:

Tengo miedo de nadar. -> I'm scared of swimming

Tengo miedo de que ellos naden. -> I'm scared of them swimming.

Tenía ganas de conocerte. -> I was extremely excited about meeting you.

Tenía ganas de que ellos se conocieran. -> I was extremely excited about them meeting each other.

Thanks! But I don't understand what do you mean by "... if the subject changes, ..."? Isn't the subject of each of the sentences you gave all the same--"I"? - joygogo, Nov 12, 2013