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A small child stands with cupped hands reaching towards a glowing, translucent golden key floating slightly above them, symbolizing the hope of receiving something.

tengan

TEN-gahn

verbA2highly irregular er
may have?expressing desire or doubt,are to have?command or necessity (e.g., 'that they have')
Also:to possess?when referring to possession,to be?referring to physical conditions like cold or hunger

Quick Reference

infinitivetener
gerundteniendo
past Participletenido

📝 In Action

Espero que todos ustedes tengan un feliz día.

A2

I hope all of you have a happy day.

Dudo que ellos tengan la culpa, pero investigaremos.

B1

I doubt that they are to blame (have the fault), but we will investigate.

No dejen que los niños tengan mucho miedo de la oscuridad.

B1

Don't let the children be too afraid of the dark. (Literally: don't let them have too much fear)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • poseer (to possess)
  • mantener (to maintain)

Antonyms

  • carecer (to lack)

Common Collocations

  • que tengan cuidado – that they be careful
  • que tengan suerte – may they have luck

💡 Grammar Points

The Special 'Wish' Form (Subjunctive)

The form 'tengan' is used when expressing desires, wishes, or emotions regarding what a group of people (ellos/ustedes) 'has' or 'experiences'. It’s used after verbs like 'esperar' (to hope) or 'querer' (to want).

Use After Impersonal Expressions

'Tengan' is required after expressions that signal importance or necessity, especially when the subject changes. For example: 'Es necesario que [ustedes] tengan los documentos.'

❌ Common Pitfalls

Subjunctive vs. Indicative

Mistake: "Using 'Espero que tienen' (I hope they have) instead of 'Espero que tengan'."

Correction: Always use 'tengan' after an expression of hope, doubt, or command that targets a group ('ellos' or 'ustedes'). Spanish requires this 'special form' when certainty is absent.

⭐ Usage Tips

Memory Hook: The 'G' Sound

The irregular 'g' sound in 'tengan' (and 'tengo', 'tengas', etc.) is the defining feature of the present subjunctive for this verb. If you need the special 'wish' form, remember to add that 'g'!

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedtiene
yotengo
tútienes
ellos/ellas/ustedestienen
nosotrostenemos
vosotrostenéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedtenía
yotenía
tútenías
ellos/ellas/ustedestenían
nosotrosteníamos
vosotrosteníais

preterite

él/ella/ustedtuvo
yotuve
tútuviste
ellos/ellas/ustedestuvieron
nosotrostuvimos
vosotrostuvisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedtenga
yotenga
tútengas
ellos/ellas/ustedestengan
nosotrostengamos
vosotrostengáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedtuviera/tuviese
yotuviera/tuviese
tútuvieras/tuvieses
ellos/ellas/ustedestuvieran/tuviesen
nosotrostuviéramos/tuviésemos
vosotrostuvierais/tuvieseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tengan

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses the subjunctive form 'tengan' to express a wish?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use 'tengan' instead of 'tienen'?

You use 'tengan' (the subjunctive form) when the sentence expresses a wish, doubt, command, emotion, or necessity regarding what a group of people ('ustedes' or 'ellos') has. You use 'tienen' (the simple present form) when you are stating a definite fact about what they currently possess or are experiencing.

Is 'tengan' always used for plural groups?

Yes. 'Tengan' is the verb form for the third person plural ('ellos,' 'ellas,' or 'ustedes'). It addresses or refers to multiple people.