Spanish · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 7
Tengo un hermanoI have a brother
The verb "tener" (to have) is irregular: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tienen. It is used for possession and family: Tengo un hermano. Family vocabulary with gender: brother/sister, son/daughter, grandfather/grandmother, husband, wife, parents. Remember the right article (un hermano, una hermana).
Dialogue
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Tengo un hermano— I Have a Brother
- CarlosMike, ¿tienes hermanos?Mike, do you have siblings?
- MikeSí, tengo una hermano y una hermana.Yes, I have a brother and a sister. (slip: una hermano, should be un)
- CarlosEs "un hermano" — masculino. Yo tengo una hermana.It's "un hermano" — masculine. I have a sister.
- MikeAh, un hermano y una hermana. ¿Tienes abuelos?Ah, un hermano and una hermana. Do you have grandparents?
Dialogue
i
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Mis abuelos— My Grandparents
- LucíaTengo dos abuelos y una abuela. ¿Y tú, Mike?I have two grandfathers and one grandmother. And you, Mike?
- MikeTengo un abuelo y dos abuelas.I have one grandfather and two grandmothers.
- LucíaMi abuela tiene un marido y tres hijos.My grandmother has a husband and three children.
- MikeTu familia es grande. Mi familia es pequeña.Your family is big. My family is small.
Vocabulary
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- tener
verbto have
- tengo
verbI have
- hermano
n.m.brother (m)
- hermana
n.f.sister (f)
- hijo
n.m.son (m)
- hija
n.f.daughter (f)
- abuelo
n.m.grandfather (m)
- abuela
n.f.grandmother (f)
- marido
n.m.husband (m)
- esposa
n.f.wife (f)
- padres
n.m.pl.parents
Grammar
i
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The verb tener (to have)
Explanation
"tener" (to have) is irregular. Its forms: yo tengo, tú tienes, él/ella tiene, nosotros tenemos, ellos tienen. Note the "g" in "tengo" and the "ie" in "tienes/tiene". Since Spanish is pro-drop, "Tengo un hermano" already means "I have a brother" without saying "yo". Use the agreeing article: un hermano, una hermana.
Examples
- Tengo un hermano y una hermana.I have a brother and a sister.
- ¿Tienes hermanos?Do you have siblings?
- Mi madre tiene dos hijos.My mother has two children.
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