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Spanish grammar lessons › Level A1 › Verbs, Tenses & Conjugation

Obligation: tener que, hay que

Tengo que trabajar (I have to); hay que reservar (you have to, in general).

Part of the free A1 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.

Tener que + infinitive: someone has to

To say what a particular person has to do, use tener (tengo, tienes, tiene… from Tener, venir, decir: irregular in two ways) + que + infinitive.

Persontener que + infinitive
yotengo que trabajar
tútienes que trabajar
él / ella / ustedtiene que trabajar
nosotros / nosotrastenemos que trabajar
vosotros / vosotrastenéis que trabajar
ellos / ellas / ustedestienen que trabajar
  • Tengo que trabajar el sábado.I have to work on Saturday.
  • ¿Tienes que estudiar esta noche?Do you have to study tonight?
  • Mi hermano tiene que ir al médico.My brother has to go to the doctor.
  • Tenemos que comprar un regalo para Ana.We have to buy a present for Ana.
  • Tenéis que hablar con el profesor.You need to talk to the teacher.

Hay que + infinitive: one has to

Hay que is impersonal: it has no subject and is about what is necessary in general, for anyone. It never changes. English often says "you have to", "you need to" or "it's necessary to".

  • Hay que reservar mesa.You need to book a table.
  • Hay que llevar el pasaporte.You have to take your passport.
  • Para aprender un idioma hay que practicar mucho.To learn a language you have to practise a lot.

It is the same hay as "there is / there are" (Hay: there is, there are), but followed by que + an infinitive.

Negatives: "don't have to"

No tener que = not have to (there is no obligation). It does not mean "mustn't".

  • No tienes que venir.You don't have to come.
  • No tengo que levantarme temprano mañana.I don't have to get up early tomorrow.

To say something is not allowed, Spanish uses no poder: No puedes aparcar aquí = You can't park here.

Deber: should

Deber + infinitive (regular -er verb: debo, debes, debe…) gives advice or a moral duty: "should", "ought to". It is softer than tener que in everyday speech. More nuance comes at C2 (deber vs deber de, haber de, tener que: modal nuance).

  • Debes beber más agua.You should drink more water.

Latin America

Tener que and hay que are used everywhere. Plural "you" is ustedes tienen que.

Common mistakes

  • Tengo trabajar → Tengo que trabajar. The que is essential.
  • Tengo de estudiar → Tengo que estudiar.
  • Hay que estudias → Hay que estudiar, or for one person Tienes que estudiar.
  • Hayan que / Hay que nosotros → Hay que never changes and never has a subject.
  • No tienes que fumar aquí for "you mustn't smoke here" → No puedes fumar aquí.

Practice

  1. Mañana _____ (tener) que ir al dentista.
    Tomorrow I have to go to the dentist.
    Show the answer

    tengo

  2. Mis padres _____ que trabajar el domingo.
    My parents have to work on Sunday.
    Show the answer

    tienen

  3. En esta biblioteca _____ hablar en voz baja.
    In this library people have to speak quietly.
    Options: hay que · tiene · hay · tengo
    Show the answer

    hay que — A general rule for everyone: hay que.

  4. Tú _____ que llamar a tu madre.
    You have to call your mother.
    Options: tienes · hay · tiene · tengas
    Show the answer

    tienes

In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days, until you've answered it correctly on three separate days.
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