tenho/tens/tem/temos/têm

Ter Present Tense

Foundations

The verb ter is the most versatile verb in Portuguese. While it primarily means 'to have' (possession), it is also the standard way to express age, physical sensations like hunger, and obligations.

How It Works

The verb ter is irregular, meaning its forms change significantly when conjugated in the present tense.

1. Conjugation:

  • eu tenho
  • tu tens
  • ele/ela/você tem
  • nós temos
  • vós tendes (mostly literary or regional in Portugal)
  • eles/elas/vocês têm

2. Primary Uses:

  • Possession: To own something. (Tenho um livro)
  • Age: Portuguese uses ter for age. See Age with Ter.
  • Physical/Emotional States: Unlike English, Portuguese uses 'ter' for states like hunger (ter fome), thirst (ter sede), cold (ter frio), or fear (ter medo).
  • Obligation: To express 'have to', use ter que (common in Brazil) or ter de (preferred in Portugal and formal contexts). See Obligation with Ter.
  • Auxiliary Verb: Ter is used to form compound tenses, such as the present perfect (e.g., Tenho estudado - I have been studying).
  • Idiomatic Expressions: Common expressions include ter razão (to be right) and ter saudades de (to miss someone or something).

3. Regional Differences:

  • Existence: In Brazil, the 3rd person singular tem is frequently used informally to mean 'there is' or 'there are', replacing há. When used this way, it always remains singular, even for plural items (e.g., Tem duas pessoas aqui).
  • Pronunciation: In Brazil, tem and têm sound identical. In European Portuguese, they are distinct: tem is one syllable, while têm is pronounced with two.

4. Pronunciation & Spelling Notes:

  • The 'nh' sound: In tenho, the 'nh' produces a nasal palatal sound, similar to the 'ny' in the English word 'canyon' or the Spanish 'ñ'.
  • Accent mark: The 3rd person plural têm (they have) always takes a circumflex accent to distinguish it from the singular tem (he/she has).
  • Derived Verbs: Verbs derived from ter (such as manter, obter, conter) follow the same conjugation pattern but take an acute accent in the 3rd person singular (e.g., ele mantém) and a circumflex in the 3rd person plural (e.g., eles mantêm).

Examples (6)

  1. Eu tenho um carro novo.

    I have a new car.

    Word by Word: I have a car new.

    Shows the most basic use of 'ter' for possession.

  2. Ela tem vinte anos.

    She is twenty years old.

    Word by Word: She has twenty years.

    Demonstrates using 'ter' to express age instead of 'to be'.

  3. Nós temos muita fome.

    We are very hungry.

    Word by Word: We have much hunger.

    In Portuguese, physical states like hunger or cold are expressed with 'ter' (to have) rather than 'ser/estar' (to be).

  4. Eu tenho de trabalhar amanhã.

    I have to work tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I have of to work tomorrow.

    Uses 'ter de' to express obligation, which is common in formal speech and European Portuguese.

  5. Tenho saudades de casa.

    I miss home.

    Word by Word: I have longings of home.

    The idiomatic expression 'ter saudades de' is the standard way to say you miss someone or something.

  6. Eles têm dois filhos.

    They have two children.

    Word by Word: They have two children.

    Note the accent on 'têm' to indicate the plural 'they'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ser' (to be) for age.

    Eu sou 20 anos.
    Eu tenho 20 anos.

    In Portuguese, you 'have' years; you do not 'are' years. Use the verb 'ter' for age.

  • Omitting the accent in the plural form 'têm'.

    Eles tem uma casa.
    Eles têm uma casa.

    The accent is required to distinguish the plural 'têm' from the singular 'tem'. In Brazil, they sound the same, but in Portugal, they are pronounced differently.

  • Using plural forms of 'ter' for existence in Brazil.

    Têm muitas pessoas aqui.
    Tem muitas pessoas aqui.

    When using 'ter' informally to mean 'there is/are' in Brazil, only the singular form 'tem' is used, regardless of whether the object is plural.

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tenho/tens/tem/temos/têmFoundationsTer Present Tense

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