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Tener + Que + Infinitive and Tener + Ganas + de + Infinitive

Author: Sophia
PDF Version

what's covered
In this lesson, you will learn to understand additional common expressions with the verb tener when paired with an infinitive. Specifically, this lesson will cover:

Table of Contents

1. Tener + que + infinitive (To Have to)

The verb tener doesn’t just mean "to have" in the sense of possession; it is also used when you want to convey something that you "have to do" (or "need to do") with the following structure:

  • tener + que + infinitive
This is an example of a modal verb construction where tener is conjugated and the verb that follows is not. It is different from English in that you need the word que to link the two verbs. In English, "to" is used instead.

Audio Spanish English
audio (69).mp3
Este semestre tengo que estudiar mucho. This semester, I have to study a lot.
Esteban tiene que hacer la tarea para su clase de literatura. Esteban has to do the homework for his literature class.
audio (71).mp3
Nosotros tenemos que hablar con nuestra profesora de español. We have to speak with our Spanish professor.

try it
Complete each sentence with a form of tener + que + infinitive. Click on the plus sign to see the answer.

1. Tú (have to go) _____ a tu clase de matemáticas pronto.
Answer: (Tú) tienes que ir a tu clase de matemáticas pronto.
2. Ellos (have to eat) _____ a las seis.
Answer: (Ellos) tienen que comer a las seis.
3. Yo (have to read) _____ el libro de finanzas.
Answer: (Yo) tengo que leer el libro de finanzas.
4. El bebé (has to sleep) _____.
Answer: El bebé tiene que dormir.

term to know
Modal Verb
A verb that expresses possible or necessary occurrences and is always used in conjunction with another verb.

2. Tener + ganas + de + infinitive (To Feel Like)

The verb tener is also used in an expression to indicate if someone “feels like” doing something (has the desire to do something). The structure used to express this:

  • tener + ganas + de + infinitive
Again, only the verb tener is conjugated in this structure.

Audio Spanish English
Yo tengo ganas de jugar al fútbol. I feel like playing soccer.
audio (73).mp3
¿Tienes ganas de ir al cine? Do you feel like going to the movies?
Ellos tienen ganas de escuchar música. They feel like listening to music.
audio (75).mp3
Nosotros no tenemos ganas de leer el libro. We don’t feel like reading the book.

Watch the video to practice an informal conversation using the tener expressions that you learned from this lesson.

watch

try it
How do you say “to feel like” in Spanish using the structure tener + ganas + de + infinitive? Click on the plus sign to see the answer.

1. I don’t feel like watching TV.
Answer: (Yo) no tengo ganas de mirar la televisión.
2. She doesn’t feel like cooking.
Answer: (Ella) no tiene ganas de cocinar.
3. They feel like going to that restaurant.
Answer: (Ellos) tienen ganas de ir a ese restaurante.
4. Do you (tú) feel like dancing?
Answer: ¿Tienes ganas de bailar?

summary
In this lesson, you learned about two more common expressions using the verb tener. The structure tener + que + infinitive is used to express things one has to do, while tener + ganas + de + infinitive is used to express what one feels like doing. Both of these expressions will be very useful in everyday conversations.

¡Buena suerte!

Source: THIS CONTENT HAS BEEN ADAPTED FROM LUMEN LEARNING'S “Gramática: Expresiones con tener y tener + que” TUTORIAL. ACCESS FOR FREE AT Lumen Learning Courses. LICENSE: CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL.

Terms to Know
Modal Verb

A verb that expresses possible or necessary occurrences and is always used in conjunction with another verb.

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