Tener: Idiomatic Uses

Question 1

tener .. años

Answer 1

to have/be .. years

la vida comienza cuando tienes cuarenta años

Question 2

tener calor

Answer 2

to have/be heat

Question 3

tener cuidado

Answer 3

to have/be careful

Por favor tenga cuidado - please have care/please be careful

Question 4

tener en cuenta

Answer 4

to have/be in mind

Question 5

tener éxito

Answer 5

to have/be successful

Question 6

tener frío

Answer 6

to have/be cold

he was cold all day - tuvo frío todo el día

Question 7

tener ganas de + infinitive verb = ?

tengo ganas de + noun = ?

Answer 7

to feel like/ to be keen on/look forward to

tengo muchas ganas de verte - looking forward to seeing you

OR

tengo ganas de helado - I want ice cream
(+ noun = I want)

Question 8

tener gracia

Answer 8

to be funny

Question 9

tener hambre

Answer 9

to be hungry

Question 10

tener miedo

Answer 10

to be afraid

tengo miedo, no me gustan película de terror

Question 11

tener paciencia

Answer 11

to be patient

Question 12

tener prisa

Answer 12

to be in a hurry

you’re in a hurry - tienes prisa

Question 13

tener que hacer

Answer 13

to have things to do

Question 14

tener que ver con

Answer 14

to have to do with

What is it to do with you?
¿Qué tiene que ver contigo?

Question 15

tener razón

Answer 15

to be right

she is always right - ella siempre tiene razón

Question 16

tener sed

Answer 16

to be thirsty *

sed = thirst
senienta/o = thirsty

Question 17

tener sueño

Answer 17

to be sleepy

Question 18

tener suerte

Answer 18

to be lucky

Question 19

what does ‘tener que’ mean when it is followed by an infinitive?

Answer 19

to have to/must

e.g. I have to go out - tengo que salir

we must see the church - tenemos que ver la iglesia