Expressing Obligations with "Tener que"
To talk about things you "have to" or "must" do, use the verb tener (to have) followed by que and an infinitive.
| Pronoun | Tener que (to have to) |
|---|---|
| yo | tengo que |
| tú | tienes que |
| él / ella / usted | tiene que |
| nosotros / nosotras | tenemos que |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | tienen que |
Only conjugate tener to match the person who has the obligation. The second verb stays in the infinitive:
| I have to clean the kitchen today. | Tengo que limpiar la cocina hoy. |
| You have to finish the project soon. | Tienes que terminar el proyecto pronto. |
| We have to prepare dinner. | Tenemos que preparar la cena. |
| You have to do the homework. | Ustedes tienen que hacer la tarea. |
Chores and Daily Duties
Use tener que to discuss chores, work, and responsibilities around the house:
| My husband has to take out the trash. | Mi esposo tiene que sacar la basura. |
| Do you have to wash the clothes now? | ¿Tienes que lavar la ropa ahora? |
Combine this structure with verbs like querer (to want) or poder (to be able to) to explain why you can or cannot do something:
| I want to sleep, but I have to work. | Quiero dormir, pero tengo que trabajar. |
| They cannot go to the park because they have to clean the floor. | Ellos no pueden ir al parque porque tienen que limpiar el piso. |
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