Conjugate tener in the imperfect tense in Spanish (El Pretérito Imperfecto)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Inma Sánchez BA

Last updated: 2023-05-03

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Tener (to have) is regular in El Pretérito Imperfecto.

Learn to conjugate tener in El Pretérito Imperfecto in Spanish.

yo	tenía
tú	tenías
él / ella / Ud.	tenía
nosotros / nosotras	teníamos
vosotros / vosotras	teníais
ellos / ellas / Uds.	tenían

Listen to these examples of tener in El Pretérito Imperfecto.

Yo tenía muchas asignaturas en la universidad.I had lots of classes/subjects at university.

Tú tenías muy buenos amigos de joven.You had very good friends when you were young.

Dalí tenía un talento espectacular.Dalí had a great talent.

Nosotros no teníamos otra alternativa.We didn't have any other choice.

¿Teníais vosotros las llaves del coche?Did you have the car keys?

Ellos tenían razón.They were right. [lit:They had the reason]

Ustedes tenían mucho dinero cuando eran jóvenes.You had a lot of money when you were young.

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