Question 1

Why does the sentence use tengo (I have) instead of a word for "I am"?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, you don't be an age; you have years. To say "I am 30 years old," you literally say "I have 30 years" (Tengo treinta años). This is why we use the verb tener (to have) for ages.

Question 2

Why is 31 written as three separate words (treinta y uno)? I thought numbers like 21 were squished together as one word.

Accepted Answer

You're right that the twenties are written as a single word (like veintiuno for 21). However, starting with 31, Spanish numbers break apart into three words: the tens, the word y (and), and the ones. So, 31 is always treinta y uno.

Question 3

I learned that uno drops its "o" and becomes un before masculine words. Why doesn't that happen here?

Accepted Answer

You only drop the "o" when uno comes directly before a masculine noun, like treinta y un años (thirty-one years). Since the sentence ends with the number and the word años isn't spoken right after it, uno keeps its "o".

Question 4

Why does the verb change from tengo to tiene in the second half of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Tengo means "I have", so it is used for yourself. In the second half, you are talking about mi hermano (my brother). To say "he has" (or in this case, "he is"), you must use the "he/she/it" form of the verb tener, which is tiene.

Tengo treinta años y mi hermano tiene treinta y uno.

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