tendría
/ten-DREE-ah/
would have
This illustrates the meaning 'would have,' showing a hypothetical possession based on a condition.
tendría(Verb)
would have
?hypothetical possession
would be
?describing a hypothetical state or age
📝 In Action
Si ganara la lotería, tendría una casa en la playa.
B1If I won the lottery, I would have a house on the beach.
Sin tu ayuda, mi proyecto no tendría éxito.
B2Without your help, my project would not be successful (would not have success).
Él tendría 30 años ahora si no se hubiera mudado.
B2He would be 30 years old now if he hadn't moved.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Would' Form (Conditional)
'Tendría' is a special form of the verb 'tener' (to have) used for talking about hypothetical or imaginary situations. Think of it as the Spanish way of saying 'would have'.
⭐ Usage Tips
For 'What If' Scenarios
Use 'tendría' when you're dreaming, imagining, or talking about what could be different under other circumstances. It's perfect for 'what if' sentences.
When used with 'que' (tendría que), this translates to 'would have to' or 'should,' often used for polite advice or necessity.
tendría(Verb)
would have to
?used with 'que' for hypothetical obligation
should
?giving polite advice
,ought to
?stronger suggestion
📝 In Action
Para mejorar, usted tendría que practicar todos los días.
B1To improve, you would have to practice every day.
Creo que tendría que hablar con el gerente.
B1I think I should talk to the manager.
Si quisiera llegar a tiempo, tendría que salir ya.
B2If she wanted to arrive on time, she would have to leave now.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Tendría que' Formula
When you add 'que' after 'tendría' and follow it with an action (like 'estudiar', 'hablar', etc.), it creates the meaning 'would have to do something'. It's a fixed recipe: tendría + que + action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'que'
Mistake: "Incorrect: Tendría estudiar más."
Correction: Correct: Tendría que estudiar más. To say 'would have to do something', you always need that little word 'que' to connect 'tendría' to the action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Polite Suggestions
Using 'tendría que' is a much softer and more polite way to give advice than saying 'tienes que' (you have to). It sounds less like a command and more like a helpful suggestion.
This usage of 'tendría' is used to make a guess or speculation about a past state, translating to 'must have been' or 'was probably.'
tendría(Verb)
must have been
?guessing about a past state or age
was probably
?expressing probability in the past
,I wonder...
?phrasing a question about a past guess
📝 In Action
En esa foto, yo tendría unos cinco años.
B2In that photo, I must have been about five years old.
Cuando llegamos, la tienda ya estaría cerrada.
B2When we arrived, the store was probably already closed.
¿Cuánta gente tendría la fiesta? No sé, unas cien personas.
C1I wonder how many people the party had? I don't know, about a hundred people.
💡 Grammar Points
A Surprising Use: Guessing About the Past
Even though 'tendría' looks like it's about the future ('would'), Spanish speakers cleverly use it to make guesses about things that already happened. It adds a feeling of uncertainty or estimation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing with 'Tenía'
Mistake: "Using 'tenía' (I had) when you're guessing: 'En esa foto, yo tenía cinco años.'"
Correction: Use 'tendría' (I must have been) for guessing: 'En esa foto, tendría unos cinco años.' Use 'tenía' only when you are stating a definite fact about the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound More Natural When Unsure
When you're telling a story and don't remember an exact detail like the time or someone's age, use 'tendría'. It's a natural way to say 'it was probably...' or 'he must have been...' without breaking your flow.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tendría
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'tendría' to mean 'must have been' or 'was probably'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'tendría' and 'tuviera'?
Great question! They both can seem hypothetical. Use 'tendría' for the 'would' part of a sentence ('I would have'). Use 'tuviera' for the 'if' part ('If I had'). For example: 'Si yo tuviera (if I had) dinero, tendría (I would have) un coche nuevo.'
Is 'tendría' only for 'I' and 'he/she/you (formal)'?
Yes, 'tendría' specifically is the form for 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (you, formal). For other people, the ending changes slightly: 'tendrías' (for tú/you informal), 'tendríamos' (for nosotros/we), and 'tendrían' (for ellos/they).
Can I use 'tendría' to talk about the future?
Not usually for a definite future plan. For that, you'd use 'tendré' ('I will have'). You might use 'tendría' in a future context if you're talking about something hypothetical, like 'Si me tocara la lotería el próximo año, tendría mucho dinero' ('If I won the lottery next year, I would have a lot of money').