Everyday sentences
Saying what you have to do
Tener que + infinitive
Use tener que to say someone has to do something.
The pattern
- Conjugate tener, then add que + infinitive.
- Tengo que, tienes que, tiene que, tenemos que, tenéis que, tienen que.
Tengo que descansar.
I have to rest.
Why it works: Tengo matches yo; descansar names what I have to do.
Notice the difference
Tenemos que salir.
We have to leave.
Why it works: Only tener changes for we.
One thing to watch for
Que has no accent here. Do not conjugate the second verb: tengo que descanso is incorrect.