Language/Catalan/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi Catalan learners! 😊
In this lesson, we'll be learning how to use the verb "tenir" (have) in Catalan grammar. "Tenir" is a very important verb that is used in many situations. It is similar to the English verb "have," but there are some differences in how it is used. By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to use "tenir" with ease!
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: How to Use Be & Reflexive verbs.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
First of all, let's have a look at the conjugation of "tenir" in the present tense:
| Person | Catalan Pronunciation | English | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jo | tinc /tik/ | I have | tu | tens /tɛns/ | you have (singular informal) | ell/ella/vostè | té /te/ | he/she/you has (formal singular) | nosaltres | tenim /təˈnim/ | we have | vosaltres | teniu /təˈniw/ | you have (plural informal) | ells/elles/vostès | tenen /ˈtɛ.neb/ | they/you have (formal plural) |
Notice that the forms of "tenir" are quite different from the corresponding forms of "have" in English. For example, in the third person singular, we say "té" instead of "has."
In addition to the present tense, "tenir" can also be used in other tenses such as the past tense, future tense, and conditional tense. We'll cover these in more detail later in the lesson.
Using "Tenir"[edit | edit source]
"Tenir" is used in a similar way to the English verb "have," but there are some differences. Here are some of the most common uses of "tenir":
Possessions[edit | edit source]
One of the most common uses of "tenir" is to indicate possession. For example:
- Jo tinc un cotxe. (I have a car.)
- Tu tens una casa molt bonica. (You have a very beautiful house.)
- Ell té un gos. (He has a dog.)
In these examples, "tenir" is used to indicate that the subject possesses something (a car, a house, a dog, etc.). Note that in Catalan, we use the indefinite article ("un," "una") even when English doesn't use it.
Age[edit | edit source]
Another common use of "tenir" is to indicate age. For example:
- Quants anys tens? (How old are you?)
- Tinc vint anys. (I am twenty years old.)
In these examples, "tenir" is used to ask about or indicate the age of the subject. Note that "anys" (years) is used to indicate age in Catalan.
Physical Sensations[edit | edit source]
"Tenir" can also be used to indicate physical sensations such as hunger, thirst, and cold. For example:
- Tinc gana. (I am hungry.)
- Tens fred? (Are you cold?)
- Ell té set. (He is thirsty.)
In these examples, "tenir" is used to indicate that the subject is experiencing a physical sensation.
Idiomatic Expressions[edit | edit source]
Finally, "tenir" is used in many idiomatic expressions in Catalan. Here are a few examples:
- Tenir sort. (To be lucky.)
- Tenir pressa. (To be in a hurry.)
- Tenir un encert. (To be right about something.)
In these examples, "tenir" is not used to indicate possession, age, or physical sensations. Instead, it is part of an idiomatic expression that has a specific meaning.
Conjugation of "Tenir"[edit | edit source]
As we mentioned earlier, "tenir" is conjugated differently from the corresponding verb "have" in English. Here are some examples of "tenir" in different tenses:
Present Tense[edit | edit source]
As we saw earlier, here is the present tense conjugation of "tenir":
| Person | Catalan Pronunciation | English | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jo | tinc /tik/ | I have | tu | tens /tɛns/ | you have (singular informal) | ell/ella/vostè | té /te/ | he/she/you has (formal singular) | nosaltres | tenim /təˈnim/ | we have | vosaltres | teniu /təˈniw/ | you have (plural informal) | ells/elles/vostès | tenen /ˈtɛ.neb/ | they/you have (formal plural) |
Imperfect Tense[edit | edit source]
The imperfect tense is used to describe past actions that were ongoing or repeated. Here is the imperfect tense conjugation of "tenir":
| Person | Catalan Pronunciation | English | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jo | tenia /təˈni.ə/ | I had | tu | tenies /təˈni.əs/ | you had (singular informal) | ell/ella/vostè | tenia /təˈni.ə/ | he/she/you had (formal singular) | nosaltres | teníem /təˈni.jəm/ | we had | vosaltres | teníeu /təˈni.əw/ | you had (plural informal) | ells/elles/vostès | tenien /təˈni.jən/ | they/you had (formal plural) |
Future Tense[edit | edit source]
The future tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future. Here is the future tense conjugation of "tenir":
| Person | Catalan Pronunciation | English | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jo | tindrà /tɪnˈdra/ | I will have | tu | tindràs /tɪnˈdras/ | you will have (singular informal) | ell/ella/vostè | tindrà /tɪnˈdra/ | he/she/you will have (formal singular) | nosaltres | tindrem /tɪnˈdrɛm/ | we will have | vosaltres | tindreu /tɪnˈdrɛw/ | you will have (plural informal) | ells/elles/vostès | tindran /tɪnˈdran/ | they/you will have (formal plural) |
Conditional Tense[edit | edit source]
The conditional tense is used to describe actions that would happen in hypothetical situations. Here is the conditional tense conjugation of "tenir":
| Person | Catalan Pronunciation | English | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| jo | tindria /tɪnˈdɾia/ | I would have | tu | tindries /tɪnˈdɾiəs/ | you would have (singular informal) | ell/ella/vostè | tindria /tɪnˈdɾia/ | he/she/you would have (formal singular) | nosaltres | tindríem /tɪnˈdɾiəm/ | we would have | vosaltres | tindríeu /tɪnˈdriəw/ | you would have (plural informal) | ells/elles/vostès | tindrien /tɪnˈdɾiən/ | they/you would have (formal plural) |
Example Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here's an example dialogue to help you see how "tenir" is used in context:
- Person 1: Hola! Com estàs? (Hi! How are you?
- Person 2: Hola! Estic bé, gràcies. Tu? (Hi! I'm fine, thanks. You?)
- Person 1: També estic bé, gràcies. Quants anys tens? (I'm also fine, thanks. How old are you?)
- Person 2: Tinc vint-i-un anys. (I'm twenty-one years old.)
In this example, "tenir" is used to ask about and indicate age.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we've learned how to use the verb "tenir" in different situations such as possession, age, physical sensations, and idiomatic expressions. We've also looked at the conjugation of "tenir" in various tenses like present, imperfect, future, and conditional. To improve your Catalan Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Subjunctive mood & Irregular Verbs.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- How to use "can" in Catalan
- Verb to be with names and places
- Instrumental Case in Catalan
- Ablative Case in Catalan
- Interrogative Words in Catalan
- Gender
- Plurals
- Pronouns
- Plural
- Nominative Case in Catalan