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"Have" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "tener", and "know" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "saber". Learn more about the difference between "have" and "know" below.
have(
hahv
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. tener
My parents have a home, a car, and three beautiful children.Mis padres tienen una casa, un carro y tres hijos bellos.
a. tener
How do I know if my child has an infection?¿Cómo sé si mi hijo tiene una infección?
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.
a. comer
I've had risotto before, and I'm not a fan.He comido risotto antes, y no me gusta.
b. tomar
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
I would like to have mashed potatoes with my steak.Me gustaría tomar puré de patatas con el filete.
a. recibir
We had a lot of presents last Christmas.Recibimos muchos regalos las Navidades pasadas.
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.
a. permitir
I won't have this mess under my roof!¡No permitiré este caos bajo mi techo!
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct 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.
a. que (in interjections)
Have a great time at the party!¡Que lo pases muy bien en la fiesta!
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.).
auxiliary verb
a. haber
You haven't been here before.No has estado aquí antes.
a. tener
I have to go to work tomorrow.Tengo que ir al trabajo mañana.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el rico
(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).
(M)
, la rica
(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).
(F)
I'd rather be one of the haves rather than the have-nots.Prefiero ser uno de los ricos que los pobres.
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know(
no
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. saber
Do you know when the next bus is leaving?¿Sabes a qué hora sale el próximo autobús?
He knows French, Spanish, and German.Sabe francés, español y alemán.
a. conocer
I know her from school, but we're not really friends.La conozco de la escuela, pero realmente no somos amigos.
a. entender
I don't know how you can treat her like that.No entiendo cómo puedes tratarla así.
a. reconocer
I knew him just by hearing his voice.Lo reconocí tan solo de escuchar su voz.
a. saber
I don't know if you should walk home so late.No sé si deberías caminar sola a tu casa a esta hora.
a. saberse
Do you know the alphabet yet?¿Ya te sabes el abecedario?
He knows a lot about the American Civil War.Se sabe mucho de la guerra civil estadounidense.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. saber
Is today Tuesday? - I don't know.¿Hoy es martes? - No lo sé.
a. saber
Did I leave the keys on the table? - I don't know.¿Dejé las llaves sobre la mesa? - No sé.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.