tenían
/te-NEE-an/
they had
Illustrating possession or ownership: They had a toy.
tenían(Verb)
they had
?possession or ownership
you all had
?possession (used for a group you're speaking to formally, or in Latin America)
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos tenían una casa en la playa.
A1My grandparents had a house on the beach.
Antes, los teléfonos no tenían cámaras.
A2Before, phones didn't have cameras.
Ustedes tenían muchos amigos en la escuela.
A2You all had many friends at school.
💡 Grammar Points
Describing the Past with the Imperfect Tense
'Tenían' is a form of the verb 'tener' used to talk about the past. It describes things that were ongoing, habitual, or just the way things were, without a specific start or end. Think of it as setting the scene or describing the background of a story.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'tenían' vs. 'tuvieron'
Mistake: "'Tenían un bebé el año pasado.' (when you mean it happened and was completed)"
Correction: 'Tuvieron un bebé el año pasado.' (They had a baby last year). Use 'tuvieron' for a specific, completed event. Use 'tenían' to describe an ongoing state, like 'Cuando eran jóvenes, tenían mucho tiempo libre.' (When they were young, they had a lot of free time).
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
Use 'tenían' to paint a picture of the past. It's perfect for the first sentence of a story: 'Eran los años 80. La gente tenía peinados extraños y la música era increíble.' (It was the 80s. People had strange hairstyles and the music was incredible.)
Illustrating a physical state or feeling: They were cold.
tenían(Verb)
they were
?in expressions for age, feelings, or physical states
they felt
?emotions like fear or confidence
📝 In Action
Los niños tenían sueño y querían ir a la cama.
A1The children were sleepy and wanted to go to bed.
Tenían 25 años cuando se casaron.
A2They were 25 years old when they got married.
Después del partido, los jugadores tenían mucha sed.
B1After the game, the players were very thirsty.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Tener' for States and Feelings
In English, you say 'I am hungry,' but in Spanish, you say 'Tengo hambre' (I have hunger). 'Tenían' works the same way for the past. It's used for many common feelings and states where English uses 'to be'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Eran' or 'Estaban' Instead of 'Tenían'
Mistake: "Ellos estaban hambrientos."
Correction: Ellos tenían hambre. While 'estaban hambrientos' is technically correct, it's far more natural and common to use the 'tener + [noun]' structure for these feelings.
⭐ Usage Tips
Memorize the Phrases
The best way to master this is to learn phrases like 'tener hambre', 'tener sed', 'tener miedo', 'tener ___ años' as single vocabulary items. Then, you just change the form of 'tener' to match who you're talking about.
Illustrating necessity or obligation: They had to clean up.
tenían(Verb)
they had to
?obligation or necessity
you all had to
?obligation (formal or Latin America)
📝 In Action
Tenían que estudiar para el examen.
A2They had to study for the exam.
Ayer no vinieron porque tenían que trabajar.
B1They didn't come yesterday because they had to work.
Ustedes tenían que llamar al doctor.
A2You all had to call the doctor.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Tener que + [Action]' Formula
To say someone 'had to do something' in the past, you use this simple recipe: 'tenían' + 'que' + the basic, unchanged form of the action verb (like 'comer', 'hablar', 'vivir').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'que'
Mistake: "Tenían estudiar mucho."
Correction: Tenían que estudiar mucho. The little word 'que' is essential in this structure. It connects the idea of 'having' to the 'action' that needs to be done.
⭐ Usage Tips
Explaining Past Actions
This is a great way to give reasons or explanations for why something happened (or didn't happen) in the past. '¿Por qué no fuiste a la fiesta?' 'Porque tenía que cuidar a mi hermano.' (Why didn't you go to the party? Because I had to take care of my brother.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tenían
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly describes a past obligation?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'tenían' and 'tuvieron'?
Both mean 'they had,' but they are used for different situations. Use 'tenían' for ongoing states, descriptions, or repeated actions in the past (like 'They had a dog when they were kids'). Use 'tuvieron' for a specific, single, completed event (like 'They had a party last night'). 'Tenían' sets the scene, while 'tuvieron' describes a specific action in the story.
Is 'tenían' only for 'they'?
No, it's also for 'ustedes,' which means 'you all.' In Spain, 'ustedes' is formal, but in Latin America, it's the standard way to talk to any group of people, whether formally or informally.