Have you ever struggled to say “I have to study” or “We need to leave” in Spanish? While English uses modal verbs like “have to,” “must,” or “need to,” Spanish has an elegant and straightforward solution: Tener Que + Infinitive.
This essential construction is one of the most practical and frequently used patterns in everyday Spanish conversation. Whether you’re talking about responsibilities, necessities, or obligations, mastering “tener que” will significantly expand your ability to express yourself naturally. In this complete guide, we’ll break down the formula, provide full conjugation charts, and show you how to use this construction in real-life contexts.
What Does “Tener Que + Infinitive” Mean?
The phrase “Tener que + [infinitive verb]” directly translates to “to have to [do something]” and expresses obligation, necessity, or something that must be done. It’s equivalent to English “have to,” “must,” or “need to.”
The Core Formula:Subject + Conjugation of "Tener" + "que" + Infinitive Verb
- Tengo que estudiar. (I have to study.)
- Tienes que llamar a tu madre. (You have to call your mother.)
- Tenemos que trabajar. (We have to work.)
This construction is more common than the verb “deber” for everyday obligations and is used in all Spanish-speaking regions.
Complete Conjugation Patterns
Present Tense – Current Obligations
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | tengo | Tengo que estudiar | I have to study |
| Tú | tienes | Tienes que trabajar | You have to work |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | tiene | Tiene que viajar | He/She has to travel |
| Nosotros | tenemos | Tenemos que comer | We have to eat |
| Vosotros | tenéis | Tenéis que descansar | You all have to rest |
| Ellos/Uds. | tienen | Tienen que leer | They have to read |
Preterite Tense – Completed Obligations
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | tuve | Tuve que trabajar ayer | I had to work yesterday |
| Tú | tuviste | Tuviste que estudiar | You had to study |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | tuvo | Tuvo que ir al médico | He/She had to go to the doctor |
| Nosotros | tuvimos | Tuvimos que pagar | We had to pay |
| Vosotros | tuvisteis | Tuvisteis que ayudar | You all had to help |
| Ellos/Uds. | tuvieron | Tuvieron que salir | They had to leave |
Imperfect Tense – Past Routines/Descriptions
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | tenía | Tenía que estudiar cada día | I had to study every day |
| Tú | tenías | Tenías que trabajar mucho | You had to work a lot |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | tenía | Tenía que cuidar a su hermano | He/She had to take care of their brother |
| Nosotros | teníamos | Teníamos que levantarnos temprano | We had to get up early |
| Vosotros | teníais | Teníais que practicar | You all had to practice |
| Ellos/Uds. | tenían | Tenían que ayudar en casa | They had to help at home |
Future Tense – Future Obligations
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | tendré | Tendré que viajar pronto | I will have to travel soon |
| Tú | tendrás | Tendrás que estudiar más | You will have to study more |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | tendrá | Tendrá que trabajar el sábado | He/She will have to work Saturday |
| Nosotros | tendremos | Tendremos que mudarnos | We will have to move |
| Vosotros | tendréis | Tendréis que esperar | You all will have to wait |
| Ellos/Uds. | tendrán | Tendrán que pagar más | They will have to pay more |
Conditional Tense – Conditional Obligations
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | tendría | Tendría que practicar más | I would have to practice more |
| Tú | tendrías | Tendrías que estudiar más | You would have to study more |
| Él/Ella/Ud. | tendría | Tendría que trabajar más | He/She would have to work more |
| Nosotros | tendríamos | Tendríamos que ahorrar dinero | We would have to save money |
| Vosotros | tendríais | Tendríais que ayudar | You all would have to help |
| Ellos/Uds. | tendrían | Tendrían que cambiar | They would have to change |
Real-Life Examples by Tense:
Present Tense:
- Tengo que terminar mi tarea. (I have to finish my homework.)
- Mi hermana tiene que practicar el piano. (My sister has to practice the piano.)
- ¿Tienes que ir al médico hoy? (Do you have to go to the doctor today?)
- Los estudiantes tienen que leer el libro. (The students have to read the book.)
Past Tenses:
- Tuve que trabajar el fin de semana. (I had to work on the weekend.) – Preterite
- Tenía que estudiar todos los días cuando era estudiante. (I had to study every day when I was a student.) – Imperfect
- Tuvimos que cancelar el viaje por la lluvia. (We had to cancel the trip because of the rain.) – Preterite
Future & Conditional:
- Tendré que viajar la próxima semana. (I will have to travel next week.)
- Tendrías que practicar más para mejorar. (You would have to practice more to improve.)
- Tendrán que pagar la cuenta mañana. (They will have to pay the bill tomorrow.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing with “Tener” Alone: Remember that “tener” without “que” means “to have” (possession).
- Tengo un coche. (I have a car.)
- Tengo que comprar un coche. (I have to buy a car.)
- Forgetting the “que”: The preposition “que” is essential and cannot be omitted.
- Using “deber” incorrectly: While “deber” can express obligation, “tener que” is more common for external obligations and necessities. Learn more about Deber + Infinitive here.
Tener Que vs. Hay Que vs. Deber
It’s important to distinguish between these similar constructions:
- Tener que: Expresses personal obligation (specific to someone)
- Tengo que limpiar mi cuarto. (I have to clean my room.)
- Hay que: Expresses general obligation/necessity (impersonal)
- Hay que limpiar la casa. (One must clean the house./The house needs to be cleaned.)
- Deber: Expresses moral obligation or duty (stronger than “tener que”)
- Debes decir la verdad. (You should/must tell the truth.)
Test Your Knowledge
Master Other Essential Spanish Structures
“Tener que” is just one of many key Spanish verb constructions. Deepen your knowledge with our other guides:
- Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool – Practice conjugating any verb, including “tener,” in all tenses.
- Deber + Infinitive – Learn to express duty and moral obligation.
- Acabar de + Infinitive – Master expressing recent past actions (“to have just done”).
- Ir A + Infinitive – Learn the simple future (“to be going to”).
- Volver A + Infinitive – Talk about doing something again.
Conclusion:
Mastering “Tener Que + Infinitive” across all tenses is crucial for expressing obligations and necessities in any time frame. By remembering the simple formula and practicing the conjugations of “tener” in present, past, future, and conditional forms, you’ll be able to talk about responsibilities, requirements, and things that must be done in any context. Start incorporating this essential construction into your daily Spanish practice, and you’ll find yourself communicating more effectively and naturally!
