¡Hola, amigos! Remember the verb tener? It means to have and is irregular in several tenses. In this post, we’ll review some of its irregular forms and learn a few verbs created by adding a prefix to tener. The best part is that these verbs follow exactly the same irregular patterns as tener—you just add a prefix!
TENER IN THE PRESENTE SIMPLE
In this tense, tener is irregular in all persons except nosotros and vosotros:
| PERSON | TENER | TRANSLATION |
| YO | TENGO | I HAVE |
| TÚ | TIENES | YOU HAVE |
| USTED/ÉL/ELLA | TIENE | YOU (FORMAL)/HE/SHE HAS |
| NOSOTROS(AS) | TENEMOS | WE HAVE |
| VOSOTROS(AS) | TENÉIS | YOU ALL HAVE |
| USTEDES/ELLOS/ELLAS | TIENEN | YOU ALL/THEY HAVE |
TENER IN THE PASADO SIMPLE
In this tense, the root changes to tuv- and endings are irregular:
| PERSON | TENER | TRANSLATION |
| YO | TUVE | I HAD |
| TÚ | TUVISTE | YOU HAD |
| USTED/ÉL/ELLA | TUVO | YOU/HE/SHE HAD |
| NOSOTROS(AS) | TUVIMOS | WE HAD |
| VOSOTROS(AS) | TUVISTEIS | YOU ALL HAD |
| USTEDES/ELLOS/ELLAS | TUVIERON | YOU ALL/THEY HAD |
TENER IN THE FUTURO SIMPLE
In this tense, the infinitive changes from tener to tendr and endings are regular:
| PERSON | TENER | TRANSLATION |
| YO | TENDRÉ | I WILL HAVE |
| TÚ | TENDRÁS | YOU WILL HAVE |
| USTED/ÉL/ELLA | TENDRÁ | YOU (FORMAL)/HE/SHE/ WILL HAVE |
| NOSOTROS(AS) | TENDREMOS | WE WILL HAVE |
| VOSOTROS(AS) | TENDRÉIS | YOU ALL WILL HAVE |
| USTEDES/ELLOS/ELLAS | TENDRÁN | YOU ALL/THEY WILL HAVE |
VERBS DERIVED FROM TENER
Here are some verbs created from tener by adding prefixes:
| # | VERB | MEANING |
| 1 | Contener | To contain, to hold inside |
| 2 | Detener | To stop, to halt |
| 3 | Mantener | To maintain, to keep |
| 4 | Obtener | To obtain, to get |
| 5 | Retener | To retain, to hold back |
| 6 | Sostener | To support, to hold up |
All these verbs share similar irregularities to tener. Example: contener (to contain).
| PERSON | PRESENT | PAST |
| YO | CONTENGO | CONTUVE |
| TÚ | CONTIENES | CONTUVISTE |
| USTED/ÉL/ELLA | CONTIENE | CONTUVO |
| NOSOTROS(AS) | CONTENEMOS | CONTUVIMOS |
| VOSOTROS(AS) | CONTENÉIS | CONTUVISTEIS |
| USTEDES/ELLOS/ELLAS | CONTIENEN | CONTUVIERON |
Let’s see their main meanings:
1. Contener – to contain; to include; to restrain; to control
El frasco contiene miel. — The jar contains honey.
Tuvo que contener las lágrimas. — He had to hold back his tears.
2. Detener – to stop; to halt; to arrest; to detain
El conductor detuvo el auto. — The driver stopped the car.
3. Mantener – to maintain; to keep; to preserve; to continue; to remain; to support financially
Debemos mantener la casa limpia. — We must keep the house clean.
Él mantiene a su familia. — He supports his family financially.
4. Obtener – to obtain; to get; to acquire; to receive; to achieve
Obtuvo un permiso de trabajo. — He obtained a work permit.
5. Retener – to retain; to keep; to hold back; to withhold; to detain
El suelo retiene la humedad. — The soil retains moisture.
La empresa retuvo a sus empleados. — The company kept its employees.
6. Sostener – to hold; to support; to carry; to uphold; to maintain; to claim or argue
Sostengo la caja con cuidado. — I am holding the box carefully.
Las columnas sostienen el techo. — The columns support the roof.
Ella sostiene que tiene razón. — She maintains that she is right.
