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"Had" is a form of "have", a transitive verb which is often translated as "tener". "Were" is a form of "be", a copular verb which is often translated as "ser". Learn more about the difference between "had" and "were" below.
have(
hahv
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to own)
a. tener
My parents have a home, a car, and three beautiful children.Mis padres tienen una casa, un carro y tres hijos bellos.
2. (to suffer)
a. pasar
I had the worst time trying to quit smoking.Lo pasé muy mal cuando estaba tratando de dejar de fumar.
b. vivir
We've had some difficult times over the last few years.Vivimos unos momentos difíciles en los últimos años.
c. tener
I don't want to go back to that place. I had a bad experience last time.No quiero volver a ese lugar. La última vez tuve una mala experiencia.
4. (to consume)
5. (to receive)
a. poseer
The new party leader has many great qualities.La nueva líder del partido posee muchas grandes cualidades.
a. tener
My college roommate had a baby last week.Mi compañera de cuarto de la universidad tuvo un bebé la semana pasada.
8. (to allow)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I had my car washed at the weekend.Llevé el coche a lavar el fin de semana.
I had my shirt cleaned at the laundry.Me lavaron la camisa en la lavandería.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
13. (rich person)
a. el rico (M), la rica (F)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I'd rather be one of the haves rather than the have-nots.Prefiero ser uno de los ricos que los pobres.
be(
bi
)A copular verb links the subject of a clause to the predicate (e.g., My brother is tall).
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I'm going to the party. - So am I.Voy a la fiesta. - Yo también.
It is a lovely day, isn't it?Es un día precioso, ¿verdad?
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I don't know how much salt is to be added to the sauce.No sé cuánta sal hay que añadir a la salsa.
The assignment is to be done by next Thursday.La tarea tiene que estar para el jueves que viene.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
My baby is due in three months.Mi bebé nacerá dentro de tres meses.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the dentist.Mañana voy al dentista.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Had it not been for his family, he would have never become an artist.Si no fuera por su familia, nunca habría sido artista.
If I were you, I would not go.Yo en tu lugar, no iría.
