Another use of "que"

Question

I thought that I had familiarised myself with most of the uses of qué/lo que/que, such as what, that, than, which and so forth. But whilst reading some Spanish I came across this and I'm not really sure why the "Que" is needed there. I can translate it perfectly fine and it's not like it looks completely unfamiliar where it is, but if I were to translate this phrase I wouldn't have been the "Que" there. The phrase is "Tienes algo mejor que hacer?". I translate this as "Don't you have anything better to do?", as does the translator. I just want to know why the "que" is needed there. If anything I would have just left it without the "Que" or put "a" there instead.

Thanks!

Answer 1

"Que hacer" is just idiomatic.

Hay mucho que hacer - There is much to do
Tengo mucho que hacer - I have much to do
No tienen nada que hacer - They have nothing to do
Ella está buscando algo que hacer - She is looking for something to do

Note that there is also a noun, quehacer, which means chore, or task, or something to do.

Thanks I've just realised what I wasn't understanding! - Quincyhopper, Oct 18, 2016

Answer 2

Are you serious? Among the first things people learn is about how to tell others to do things. For example:

"Tienes que hacer la cama."

They would probably do what you say most of the time. But once in a while someone might say:

"Tengo mucho que hacer ya."

I hope it helps a little bit. Keep on learning.

As soon as you said that I realised about the use of "tener que". I am familiar with that and just didn't notice that the phrase I was talking about used that. Thanks! - Quincyhopper, Oct 18, 2016

Answer 3

This expression, "Tengo mucho que hacer" has given rise to the noun "quehacer(es).

Después de hacer mis quehaceres puedo pasar por tu casa.

After I do my chores I can pass by your house.