Use of Direct Object with the Verb Tener
Present Indicative Verb Tener - to have
Let's take a look at the forms of the verb, "tener" which means "to have".
yo tengo nosotros tenemos I have we have tú tienes ellos/ellas tienen you have they have él/ella tiene he/she has
We have used "have" to express possession. In our sentences we have used nouns to complete the sentence. We could also use a pronoun to substitute for the noun.
- I have the money.
I have it.
There are two words that we use for "it" as a direct object in Spanish. It depends on whether the noun we are replacing is in the "O" category or the "A" category. In addition, we need to notice that we put the word "it" as a direct object in front of the verb in Spanish.
- I have the money (el dinero).
Yo tengo el dinero. / Yo lo tengo.
- I have the book bag (la mochila).
Yo tengo la mochila. / Yo la tengo.
If the direct object is plural, we would say "them" in English. In Spanish, again, we would have two forms, depending on the category of the noun that we are replacing.
- I am studying the chapters (los capítulos).
Yo estudio los capítulos. / Yo los estudio.
- I am studying the pages (las páginas).
Yo estudio las páginas. / Yo las estudio.
One other thing to notice is that when the sentence is negative, the word "no" will come first before the direct object pronoun.
- I don't have it (the money).
Yo no lo tengo.
Now, let's practice some sentences.
I have the money.
I have it.
Do you have the money?.
Do you have it?
Mary says that she has the money.
Mary says that she has it.
We have the money.
We don't have the money.
We don't have it.
The boys don't have the money.
The boys don't have it.
We know that we can use "have" for possession, but also for "obligation". We can say that someone "has" something, but also we can say that someone "has to do" something. In this case we have to insert the word "que" and follow it with the "R" form of the verb that tells us what someone has to do.
I have to study.
If we use a pronoun direct object, we will have to put it in front of the entire verb phrase. In Spanish you can never split a verb phrase.
I have to study the chapter.
I have to study it.
I have to study the chapter.
I have to study it.
Do you have to study the chapter?
Do you have to study it?
Do you have to study the chapters?
Do you have to study them?
John has to study the chapter.
John has to study it.
John has to study the chapters.
John has to study them.
The boys have to study the chapter.
The boys have to study it.
The boys have to study the chapters.
The boys have to study them.
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