Language/Portuguese/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have

Portuguese Grammar - How to Use "Have"

Hi Portuguese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to use the verb "ter" in Portuguese, which means "to have" in English. To improve your Portuguese Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

How to Conjugate "Ter"

Below is the conjugation of "ter" in the present tense:

Pronoun	Ter Conjugation
Eu	tenho
Você	tem
Ele/Ela	tem
Nós	temos
Vocês	têm
Eles/Elas	têm

As you can see, "ter" is a regular verb, meaning it follows the regular conjugation pattern.

Using "Ter" to Talk About Possession

One of the most common uses of "ter" in Portuguese is to talk about possession. In English, we use the verb "to have" in the same way. Here are a few examples:

Portuguese	English Translation
Eu tenho um carro.	I have a car.
Você tem um cachorro?	Do you have a dog?
Ele tem uma casa muito grande.	He has a very big house.

Notice that in Portuguese, we always include the pronoun before the verb, even though we omit it in English.

Using "Ter" to Talk About Age

Another common use of "ter" in Portuguese is to talk about age. In English, we say "I am [number] years old," but in Portuguese, we use "ter." Here are a few examples:

Portuguese	English Translation
Eu tenho vinte anos.	I am twenty years old.
Você tem quantos anos?	How old are you?
Ele tem cinquenta e cinco anos.	He is fifty-five years old.

Dialogue

A: Oi, você tem irmãos? (Hello, do you have siblings?)

B: Sim, eu tenho um irmão e uma irmã. (Yes, I have a brother and a sister.)

A: Quantos anos você tem? (How old are you?)

B: Eu tenho vinte e três anos. E você? (I am twenty-three years old. And you?)

A: Eu tenho trinta anos. (I am thirty years old.)

Using "Ter" in Idiomatic Expressions

Finally, "ter" is also used in many idiomatic expressions in Portuguese, just like "to have" is in English. Here are a few examples:

Portuguese	English Translation
ter sorte	to be lucky
ter pressa	to be in a hurry
ter fome	to be hungry
ter sede	to be thirsty

Conclusion

In conclusion, "ter" is a very useful and versatile verb in Portuguese. Not only can we use it to talk about possession and age, but we can also use it in many idiomatic expressions. 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. 😎

Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Similarities between French and Portuguese, Portuguese, Indefinite Pronouns & Future Tense.