Tengo un libro.

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Breakdown of Tengo un libro.

• tener: to have
• un: a
• el libro: the book

Questions & Answers about Tengo un libro.

Why don’t we include the subject yo in the sentence Tengo un libro?

In Spanish, it’s very common to drop the subject pronoun because the verb form tengo clearly indicates the subject (which is “I”). You can still say Yo tengo un libro for emphasis, but it’s not necessary in everyday speech.

What does the verb tengo come from?

Tengo is the first-person singular form of the verb tener (to have) in the present tense. The conjugation goes tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, tienen.

Why do we use un instead of uno before libro?

Un is the masculine singular indefinite article used before a masculine noun. Libro is a masculine noun, so we use un. Uno can stand alone (e.g., counting numbers), but when it precedes a masculine noun, it becomes un.

Can Tengo un libro mean something else besides “I own one book” in Spanish?

Sometimes tener can express conditions or states (like tener hambre for “I’m hungry”), but Tengo un libro usually refers to possession. Context helps clarify if there’s another meaning, but typically it means you possess a book.

Is the indefinite article un always necessary in Spanish when talking about possession?

When referring to just one item, it is standard to use un. However, in more casual speech, some speakers might drop it: Tengo libro is not common in Spain, but you might hear similar omissions in certain dialects. Generally, you should keep un for correct grammar in Spanish (Spain).