tener Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
tener — to have
This tense uses the 'tuvier-' stem: tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera, tuviéramos, tuvierais, tuvieran.
tener Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this in 'if' clauses (if I had...) or when a past emotion/request triggers the subjunctive.
Notes on tener in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is always derived from the third-person plural of the preterite (tuvieron). Drop the -on and add the endings.
Example Sentences
Si tuviera más tiempo, iría al gimnasio.
If I had more time, I would go to the gym.
yo
Me pidió que tuviera cuidado.
He asked me to have (be) careful.
él/ella/usted
Si tuviéramos dinero, viajaríamos.
If we had money, we would travel.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'si tenía dinero' for a hypothetical.
Correct: Use 'si tuviera dinero'.
Why: Hypothetical 'if' statements require the imperfect subjunctive, not the indicative imperfect.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: tengo
Tener is a 'yo-go' verb with an e-ie stem change: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen.
Preterite
yo: tuve
The preterite of tener is highly irregular with a 'uv' stem: tuve, tuviste, tuvo, tuvimos, tuvisteis, tuvieron.
Imperfect
yo: tenía
Tener is completely regular in the imperfect: tenía, tenías, tenía, teníamos, teníais, tenían.
Future
yo: tendré
Tener uses the irregular stem 'tendr-': tendré, tendrás, tendrá, tendremos, tendréis, tendrán.
Conditional
yo: tendría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'tendr-': tendría, tendrías, tendría, tendríamos, tendríais, tendrían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: tenga
The present subjunctive is based on the 'tengo' stem: tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengáis, tengan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ten
The command forms are irregular: ten (tú), tenga (usted), tened (vosotros), tengan (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no tengas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no tengas, no tenga, no tengamos, no tengáis, no tengan.