tienes
/tyeh-ness/
The most common meaning of 'tienes' is 'you have,' showing that you possess something, like this book.
tienes (Verb)
📝 In Action
¿Tienes un bolígrafo?
A1Do you have a pen?
Tienes una casa muy bonita.
A1You have a very beautiful house.
Veo que tienes un coche nuevo.
A2I see you have a new car.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
💡 Grammar Points
Who are you talking to? 'tú' vs 'usted'
'Tienes' is the form you use when talking to one person you know well, like a friend, a family member, or a child. It's the informal 'you'.
An Irregular Verb
The verb 'tener' is irregular, meaning it doesn't follow the normal patterns. Notice how the 'e' in 'tener' changes to 'ie' for 'tienes'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'tienes' and 'tiene'
Mistake: "Le dices a tu amigo: '¿Usted tiene un lápiz?'"
Correction: To a friend, you should say: '¿Tienes un lápiz?'. Use 'tienes' for 'tú' (informal you) and 'tiene' for 'usted' (formal you) or 'él/ella' (he/she).
⭐ Usage Tips
Default to 'tienes' with peers
When speaking with people your own age in a casual setting, using 'tienes' is usually the safe and friendly choice.
In Spanish, you don't 'are' an age, you 'have' years. So, you use 'tienes' to ask or state someone's age.
tienes (Verb)
📝 In Action
¿Cuántos años tienes?
A1How old are you?
Tienes veinte años, ¿verdad?
A1You are twenty years old, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Key Difference: 'Tener' for Age
This is a big difference from English! Instead of using the verb 'to be' (ser/estar), Spanish always uses 'tener' to talk about how old someone is.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'ser' or 'estar' for age
Mistake: "Soy treinta años."
Correction: The correct way is: 'Tengo treinta años.' Always remember you 'have' years in Spanish.
For feelings like being hungry, thirsty, or sleepy, Spanish says you 'have' the feeling. For example, 'tienes sueño' means 'you are sleepy.'
tienes (Verb)
📝 In Action
Si tienes sed, aquí hay agua.
A1If you are thirsty, here is some water.
¿Tienes frío? Cierra la ventana.
A1Are you cold? Close the window.
Parece que tienes miedo de la oscuridad.
A2It seems like you are afraid of the dark.
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing Feelings with 'Tener'
Just like with age, Spanish uses 'tener' for many common physical feelings. Think of it as 'having' a sensation rather than 'being' it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'estar' for feelings
Mistake: "Estoy hambre."
Correction: Always use 'tener' for this list of feelings: 'Tengo hambre.' You 'have' hunger.
⭐ Usage Tips
Memorize the list
It's very helpful to memorize the common 'tener + noun' phrases (tener hambre, sed, frío, etc.) as single vocabulary items.
When you add 'que' after 'tienes', it creates the phrase 'tienes que,' which means 'you have to' do something.
tienes (Verb)
📝 In Action
Tienes que estudiar para el examen.
A2You have to study for the exam.
Para ir al centro, tienes que tomar el autobús.
A2To go downtown, you have to take the bus.
Lo siento, tienes que esperar tu turno.
B1I'm sorry, you have to wait your turn.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'tener que' formula
To say someone has to do something, use the formula: (form of tener) + 'que' + (the action verb in its base form). For example, 'tienes que correr'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'que'
Mistake: "Tienes estudiar más."
Correction: You must include 'que' between 'tienes' and the next verb: 'Tienes que estudiar más.'
⭐ Usage Tips
'Tener que' vs. 'Deber'
'Tener que' often implies a stronger, more external obligation (like a rule), while 'deber' can feel more like a moral duty or strong suggestion ('you should').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tienes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'You are sleepy' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you use 'tienes' for age ('tienes 20 años') instead of 'eres' (you are)?
It's a great question because it's a major difference from English! In Spanish, the idea is that you 'possess' or 'have accumulated' years of life. So, you use the verb for possession, 'tener', to talk about age. You literally say 'You have 20 years'.
What's the difference between 'tienes' and 'tiene'?
'Tienes' (with an 's') is what you use when talking to one person you know well (the informal 'tú' form). 'Tiene' (without the 's') is for talking to someone formally ('usted'), or when talking about a third person ('él' - he, or 'ella' - she).
Is 'tienes que' the same as 'debes'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable, but there's a slight difference. 'Tienes que' usually implies an external obligation or a necessity (e.g., 'Tienes que pagar' - You have to pay). 'Debes' can feel more like a moral duty or strong advice (e.g., 'Debes ser honesto' - You should be honest). For beginners, you can use 'tienes que' for most 'have to' situations.