Possible Results:
tú tenías
-you were having
Imperfectconjugation oftener.
tú teñías
-you were dyeing
Imperfectconjugation ofteñir.

tener

tener(
teh
-
nehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
transitive verb
1. (to possess)
a. to have
Tengo tres coches.I have three cars.
b. to have got
Mary tiene una casa en el campo.Mary's got a house in the country.
2. (to be carrying)
a. to have
¿Tienes efectivo?Do you have cash?
b. to have got
¿Tienen sus pasaportes?Have you got your passports?
3. (used to express characteristics)
a. to have
Tiene los ojos verdes.She has green eyes.
b. to have got
Susana tiene el cabello oscuro.Susana's got dark hair.
4. (to wear)
a. to have
La chica que busco tiene lentes de sol y una bufanda.The girl I'm looking for has sunglasses and a scarf.
b. to have on
¿Por qué tiene zapatos tu perro?Why does your dog have shoes on?
5. (used to express age)
a. to be
Mi hermana tiene 33 años.My sister is 33 years old.
6. (to have planned)
a. to have
El lunes tengo una cita con el dentista.I have a dentist appointment on Monday.
b. to have got
Mañana tenemos junta en la tarde.We've got a meeting tomorrow afternoon.
7. (to feel)
a. to be
Si tienes frío, ponte un abrigo.If you are cold, put on a coat.
8. (to be ill with)
a. to have
Mi hijo tiene sarampión.My child has measles.
9. (to grasp or carry)
a. to hold
Ten la bandeja.Hold the tray.
b. to take
Ten esta caja, por favor.Take this box, please.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Tengan sus boletos.Here are your tickets.
Ten tu bolsa.Here is your bag.
10. (to measure)
a. to be
Esta maleta tiene 20 centímetros de ancho.This suitcase is 20 centimeters wide.
11. (to give birth to)
a. to have
Mi perra tuvo seis cachorros.My dog had six puppies.
12. (to receive)
a. to have
Todavía no tuve el correo electrónico de confirmación de la empresa.I haven't had a confirmation email from the company yet.
13. (used with a participle to describe a state)
a. to have
Tenía la casa recogida cuando llegué.He had the house cleaned up by the time I arrived.
14. (used to describe a possibility)
a. to have
Realmente no tiene solución este problema.This problem really has no solution.
15. (to think of)
a. to consider
Siempre tuve a Rodolfo por honesto.I've always considered Rodolfo to be honest.
16. (used to indicate duration)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Tengo dos años sin verlo.I haven't seen him for two years.
Mis abuelos tienen 40 años de casados.My grandparents have been married for 40 years.
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
17. (used to indicate an obligation; used with "que")
a. to have to
Tengo que terminar mis deberes antes de salir a la fiesta.I have to finish my homework before going to the party.
b. must
Tienes que comer todo en tu plato si quieres postre.You must eat everything on your plate if you want dessert.
18. (used to indicate supposition; used with "que")
a. must
¡Tienes que tener calor con tanta ropa puesta!You must be hot with so many clothes on!
19. (used to indicate a reproach; used with "que")
a. should
Tenías que haberme marcado antes de salir.You should have called me before leaving.
20. (before past participle)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Tengo pensado ir al mercado mañana.I think I'll go to the market tomorrow.
Tenemos entendido que piensas dejar la escuela.We understand that you're thinking of leaving school.
21. (before adjective)
a. to make
La noticia sobre el huracán me tiene muy nervioso.The news about the hurricane is making me nervous.
tenerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g. Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
22. (to remain upright)
a. to stand
Este adorno no se tiene sin apoyarlo contra algo.This ornament won't stand without leaning it on something.
b.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Estaba tan mareado que no me tenía de pie.I was so dizzy that I couldn't stand up.
No me tengo de sueño.I'm so tired I can barely stand.
23. (to believe oneself to be)
a. to consider oneself
Miguel se tiene por muy listo.Miguel considers himself really clever.
b.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Este muchacho se tiene por muy guapo.That kid thinks he's so attractive.
¿Por quién se tiene tu prima?Who does your cousin think she is?
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tener
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
transitive verb
1. (poseer, experimentar)
a. to have
tengo un hermanoI have o I've got a brother
tener fiebreto have a temperature
tuvieron una peleathey had a fight
tener un niñoto have a baby
¡que tengan buen viaje!have a good journey!
tengo las vacaciones en agostomy holidays are in August
2. (medida, años, sensación, cualidad)
a. to be
tiene 3 metros de anchoit's 3 meters wide
¿cuántos años tienes?how old are you?
tiene diez añosshe's ten (years old)
tengo tres años aquíI've been here for three years
tener hambre/miedoto be hungry/afraid
tener mal humorto be bad-tempered
le tiene lástimahe feels sorry for her
3. (recibir)
a. to get
tuve un verdadero desengañoI was really disappointed
tendrá una sorpresahe'll get a surprise
4. (sujetar)
a. to hold
tenlo por el asahold it by the handle
5. (tomar)
a.
ten el libro que me pedistehere's the book you asked me for
¡aquí tienes!, ¡ten!here you are!
6. (valorar)
a.
me tienen por tontothey think I'm stupid
tener a alguien en muchoto think the world of somebody
7. (expresiones)
a.
no las tiene todas consigohe is not too sure about it
tener a bien hacer algoto be kind enough to do something
tener que ver con algo/alguiento have something to do with something/somebody
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
8. (haber)
a.
teníamos pensado ir al teatrowe had thought of going to the theater
9. (hacer estar)
a.
me tuvo despiertoit kept me awake
eso la tiene despistadathat has confused her
10. (expresa obligación)
a.
tener que hacer algoto have to do something
tiene que ser asíit has to be this way
tenías que haber visto cómo corríayou should have seen him run
11. (expresa propósito)
a.
tenemos que ir a cenar un díawe ought to o should go for dinner some time
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
12. (sostenerse)
a.
tenerse de pieto stand upright
13. (considerarse)
a.
se tiene por listohe thinks he's clever
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
tener
Para las expresiones como tener cuidado, tener ganas, tener suerte, tener de particular, tener en cuenta, ver la otra entrada.
transitive verb
El uso de [got] con el verbo [have] es más frecuente en inglés británico, pero solo se usa en el presente.
1 (poseer, disponer de) to have; have got
¿tienes dinero? do you have o have you got any money?; ¿tienes un bolígrafo? do you have o have you got a pen?; ¿tiene usted permiso para esto? do you have o have you got permission for this?; tiene un tío en Venezuela he has an uncle in Venezuela; he's got an uncle in Venezuela; ahora no tengo tiempo I don't have o I haven't got time now
2 (referido a aspecto, carácter) to have; have got
tiene el pelo rubio he has blond hair; he's got blond hair
tiene los ojos azules
tenía una sonrisa preciosa she had a lovely smile; tiene la nariz aguileña she has an aquiline nose; she's got an aquiline nose; tenía el pelo mojado his hair was wet
3 (referido a edad) to be
tiene siete años he's seven (years old); ¿cuántos años tienes? how old are you?; al menos debe de tener 55 años she must be at least 55
4 (referido a ocupaciones) to have; have got
tenemos clase de inglés a las 11 we have an English class at 11; we've got an English class at 11; el lunes tenemos una reunión we're having a meeting on Monday; we've got a meeting on Monday; mañana tengo una fiesta I'm going to a party tomorrow
5 (parir) to have
va a tener un niño she's going to have a baby
6 (medir) to be
tener 5cm de ancho to be 5cm wide
7 (sentir) to be
tener hambre/sed/calor/frío to be hungry/thirsty/hot/cold; no tengas tantos celos don't be so jealous; hemos tenido mucho miedo we have been very frightened; le tengo mucho cariño I'm very fond of him; he tenido un presentimiento I've had a premonition
8 (padecer, sufrir) to have
han tenido un accidente they have had an accident; hemos tenido muchas dificultades we have had a lot of difficulties; Luis tiene la gripe Luis has o has got flu; tengo fiebre I have o I've got a (high) temperature
tiene muchas preocupaciones encima
¿qué tienes? what's the matter with you?; what's wrong with you?
9 (sostener) to hold
lo tenía en la mano
tenía el pasaporte en la mano he had his passport in his hand; he was holding his passport in his hand; tenme el vaso un momento, por favor hold my glass for me for a moment, please
¡ten! ¡aquí tienes! here you are!
¡cuidado, tiene una pistola!
10 (recibir) to have
aún no he tenido carta I haven't had a letter yet; ¿has tenido noticias suyas? have you heard from her?
11 (pensar, considerar)
tener a bien hacer algo to see fit to do sth
tener a algn en algo
te tendrán en más estima they will hold you in higher esteem
tener a algn por to consider sb (to be)
le tengo por poco honrado I consider him (to be) rather dishonest
ten por seguro que ... rest assured that ...
12
tener algo que (+ infin)
tengo trabajo que hacer I have o I've got work to do; no tengo nada que hacer I have o I've got nothing to do; eso no tiene nada que ver that has o that's got nothing to do with it
13 (locuciones)
ya saben dónde me tienen you always know where you can find me
¡ahí lo tienes! there you are!; there you have it!
tener algo de
de bueno no tiene nada there's nothing good about it
no tiene nada de su madre
no tiene nada de particular it's nothing special; ¿qué tiene de malo? what's wrong with that?
tenerlo difícil to find it difficult
creo que lo tiene difícil
tenerlo fácil to have it easy
¿(conque) esas tenemos? so that's the game, is it?; so it's like that, is it?
no tenerlas todas consigo (dudar) to be dubious o unsure; (desconfiar) to be uneasy; be wary
no las tengo todas conmigo de que lo haga I'm none too sure that he'll do it; I'm not entirely sure that he'll do it
tener todas las de ganar to hold all the winning cards; look like a winner
tener todas las de perder to be fighting a losing battle; look like losing
quien tuvo retuvo some things stay with you to the grave
auxiliary verb
1
tener que (+ infin)
(indicando obligación)
tener que hacer algo
tengo que comprarlo I have to o I've got to buy it; I must buy it; tenemos que marcharnos we have to o we've got to go; we must be going; tienen que aumentarte el sueldo they have to o they've got to give you a rise; tuvo que devolver todo el dinero he had to pay all the money back; tiene que ser así it has to be this way
(indicando suposición, probabilidad)
¡tienes que estar cansadísima! you must be really tired!; tiene que dolerte mucho ¿no? it must hurt a lot, doesn't it?; tiene que estar en tu despacho it must be in your office; tiene que haberte dolido mucho it must have hurt a lot
(en reproches)
¡tendrías que haberlo dicho antes! you should have said so before!; ¡tendría que darte vergüenza! you should be ashamed of yourself!; ¡tú tenías que ser! it would be you!; it had to be you!
(en sugerencias, recomendaciones)
tendrías que comer más you should eat more; tendríamos que pedirle perdón we should apologize to him
2
tenía puesto el sombrero he had his hat on; nos tenían preparada una sorpresa they had prepared a surprise for us; tenía pensado llamarte I had been thinking of phoning you; te lo tengo dicho muchas veces I've told you hundreds of times; yo no le tengo visto I've never set eyes on him
3
procura tener contentos a todos he tries to keep everybody happy; me tiene perplejo la falta de noticias the lack of news is puzzling; I am puzzled by the lack of news
4 especialmente (México) (llevar)
tienen tres meses de no cobrar they haven't been paid for three months; it's three months since they've been paid; tengo cuatro años aquí I've been here for four years
tenía cinco años sin verlo ¿cuánto tiempo tiene manejando este coche?
pronominal verb
tenerse
1 (sostenerse)
tenerse firme to stand upright; to stand firm
tenerse de o en pie to stand up
la muñeca se tiene de pie the doll stands up
no (poder) tenerse (de o en pie)
no se puede tener de pie no se tiene de pie he can hardly stand
estoy que no me tengo de sueño I'm falling asleep on my feet; I'm about ready to drop
2 (considerarse)
tenerse en mucho to have a high opinion of o.s.
tenerse por
se tiene por muy listo he thinks himself very clever; he thinks he's very clever
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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