Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Tengo una computadora con pantalla táctil en la oficina. - I have a computer with a touch screen in the office.

In Spanish, tener + noun expresses possession (“I have X”). The verb haber is impersonal and is used to mean “there is/there are” (e.g. hay una computadora = “there is a computer”). If you said hay una computadora, you’d be stating existence, not that you own it. To say “I have a computer,” you need tengo.

Why is it una computadora and not la computadora or mi computadora?

The article una is indefinite and introduces “a computer” in general, not one you’ve mentioned before or that’s known to your listener.

la computadora (“the computer”) refers to a specific, already-known device.
mi computadora (“my computer”) emphasizes that it belongs to you.

Use una when you just want to say “I have a (some) computer,” without more detail.

What exactly does con mean in computadora con pantalla táctil? Could we say de pantalla táctil instead?

Here, con means “with,” linking the computer to a feature it possesses. It’s the most natural way to say “computer with touchscreen.”
While Spanish speakers might understand computadora de pantalla táctil, it’s less common. You’ll hear:

computadora con pantalla táctil
or simply computadora táctil

But avoid de if you want to sound most natural in Latin America.

Why is it pantalla táctil and not táctil pantalla? What’s the rule for adjective placement?

In Spanish, adjectives generally come after the noun they modify. So you say pantalla (the noun) + táctil (the adjective). Placing táctil before the noun would sound awkward or poetic and isn’t standard.

In English we write “touch-screen” as a hyphenated compound. Why don’t we hyphenate pantalla táctil in Spanish?

Spanish seldom uses hyphens for noun-adjective compounds. Each word stands alone: pantalla táctil. A hyphen (e.g. pantalla-táctil) would be marked as incorrect in most style guides.

Why is en la oficina placed at the end of the sentence? Could I start with en la oficina instead?

The neutral word order in Spanish places the location phrase at the end:
“Tengo una computadora con pantalla táctil en la oficina.”
However, you can move it to the front for emphasis or style:
“En la oficina, tengo una computadora con pantalla táctil.”
That front position highlights the location.

Is the definite article la required in en la oficina? What if I say en oficina?

Yes, Spanish normally requires the definite article with locations:

en la oficina (“in the office”)
Omitting la (en oficina) sounds ungrammatical unless it’s part of a fixed phrase or headline. Always include the article in everyday speech.

Why do Latin American speakers use computadora instead of ordenador, which I’ve also seen in textbooks?

Computadora is the standard term for “computer” throughout Latin America. Ordenador is primarily used in Spain. If you’re learning Latin American Spanish, stick with computadora to be understood everywhere in the region.