
tener Present Subjunctive Conjugation
tener — to have
The present subjunctive is based on the 'tengo' stem: tenga, tengas, tenga, tengamos, tengáis, tengan.
tener Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this after expressions of desire, doubt, or necessity, such as 'Espero que tengas un buen día' (I hope you have a good day).
Notes on tener in the Present Subjunctive
Because the 'yo' form is 'tengo', the subjunctive stem becomes 'teng-' for all persons.
Example Sentences
Espero que tengas suerte.
I hope you have luck.
tú
Es necesario que tengamos paciencia.
It is necessary that we have patience.
nosotros
No creo que ellos tengan el libro.
I don't think they have the book.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'tienes' after 'Espero que'.
Correct: Use 'tengas'.
Why: Verbs of wishing/hoping trigger the subjunctive mood.
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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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: tuviera
This tense uses the 'tuvier-' stem: tuviera, tuvieras, tuviera, tuviéramos, tuvierais, tuvieran.
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.