Log inSign up

Tenemos que comprar unos guantes.

Tenemos que comprar unos guantes.
We have to buy some gloves.
From Lesson 180:Expanding Your Wardrobe·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Tenemos que comprar unos guantes.

Why is que used here after tenemos?
In Spanish, when you want to say you "have to" do something, you use the phrase tener que followed by an infinitive verb (the basic, unconjugated form). Here, tenemos que comprar means "we have to buy". Without que, it would sound like "we have buy" in English, which is incorrect.
Why is comprar in its infinitive form instead of conjugated like compramos?
When you have two verbs working together in a phrase like tener que (to have to), only the first verb changes to match the person doing the action. Since tenemos is already conjugated for "we", the second verb comprar stays in its dictionary form.
Why do we use unos for "some" instead of algunos?
Both unos and algunos can mean "some", but they are used slightly differently. Unos is just the plural of un (a/an) and is used to talk about a small, indefinite quantity, like a pair of gloves. Algunos often implies "some, but not all" or focuses on a specific subset. For everyday shopping, unos guantes is the most natural choice.
Could I just say Tenemos que comprar guantes without unos?
Yes, you can! Both are correct and sound completely natural. Saying comprar guantes focuses purely on the type of item you are buying, while adding unos just puts a tiny bit more emphasis on buying "a pair" or "a few" of them.

Learn Tenemos que comprar unos guantes and more in Spanish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Spanish →