Inklingo

How to Say "gotten" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tenido

/teh-NEE-doh//teˈni.ðo/

Verb (Past Participle)A2General
Use 'tenido' when 'gotten' implies having or experiencing something, often an abstract concept like a feeling, state, or problem.
A smiling cartoon character holding a bright red balloon on a string, illustrating the simple act of having or possessing something in the past.

Examples

He tenido un día muy ocupado.

I have had a very busy day.

¿Alguna vez has tenido un perro?

Have you ever had a dog?

No habíamos tenido la oportunidad de hablar.

We hadn't had the chance to talk.

Building 'Have Done' Sentences

Use tenido with a form of the helper verb haber (like 'he', 'has', 'ha') to talk about things that 'have happened'. For example, he tenido means 'I have had'. Think of haber + tenido as a two-word team.

Using 'ser/estar' instead of 'haber'

Mistake: “Estoy tenido un problema.”

Correction: He tenido un problema. (I have had a problem). To say you 'have had' something, you must use the helper verb `haber`, not `ser` or `estar`.

sacado

/sah-KAH-doh//saˈkaðo/

Past ParticipleA1General
Use 'sacado' when 'gotten' means to take something out of a place or to obtain concrete information or results, like grades.
A white rabbit is being pulled halfway out of a tall black magician's top hat.

Examples

Hemos sacado el coche del garaje.

We have taken the car out of the garage.

¿Ya has sacado las entradas para el concierto?

Have you already gotten the tickets for the concert?

El informe había sacado conclusiones muy interesantes.

The report had drawn very interesting conclusions.

Forming Perfect Tenses

Use 'sacado' with a form of the verb 'haber' (to have) to talk about actions completed in the past, like 'He sacado' (I have taken out).

Spelling Change for Sound

The base verb 'sacar' changes 'c' to 'qu' before 'e' or 'i' (like in 'saqué' or 'saques') to keep the hard 'k' sound.

Agreement with 'Haber'

Mistake: “La hemos sacada.”

Correction: La hemos sacado. When used with 'haber', the past participle always stays masculine singular ('sacado'), regardless of the gender of the thing you took out.

Confusing 'tenido' and 'sacado'

Learners often confuse 'tenido' and 'sacado' when 'gotten' implies acquisition or removal. Remember that 'tenido' relates to possessing or experiencing, while 'sacado' is about extraction or obtaining concrete results.

Related Translations

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