Recursio
Spanish from zero with Recursio Lesson 41 of 100 · Module 9

Lesson 41. Have to: tengo que

Step 1 · New words

10 words in this lesson

Tap 🔊 and repeat out loud. These words come back in the dialogue and the exercises below.

tener que
to have to
hay que
you have to, one must
deber
should
limpiar
to clean
comprar
to buy
pagar
to pay
ordenar
to tidy up
la compra
grocery shopping
los deberes
homework
la lavadora
washing machine
Step 2 · Grammar

tener que, hay que, deber + infinitive

Tener que — I have to

Tener que + infinitive means “to have to” for a specific person. Tener is conjugated as in lesson 9; que and the infinitive stay the same:

yotengo que estudiar
tútienes que estudiar
él, ella, ustedtiene que estudiar
nosotrostenemos que estudiar
vosotrostenéis que estudiar
ellos, ustedestienen que estudiar

You need que here: Tengo que limpiar la casa.

Hay que — a general requirement

Hay que + infinitive expresses a general requirement without naming who has to do it. It has only one form: Hay que pagar aquí. It’s the same hay as in lesson 14.

Deber — should

Deber + infinitive means “should, must”; people often use it for rules and advice. No debes correr aquí. — “You shouldn’t run here.” It’s conjugated like comer: debo, debes, debe…

Chores

  • hacer la compra — to do the grocery shopping;
  • poner la lavadora — to put a wash on; learn it as a set expression;
  • los deberes — homework; the word is plural.

Tengo que estudiar. — I have to study.

Hay que pagar aquí. — You have to pay here.

No debes correr aquí. — You shouldn't run here.

Tengo que hacer la compra. — I have to do the grocery shopping.

Pongo la lavadora. — I'm putting a wash on.

Step 3 · Dialogue

Dialogue

Listen to each line and repeat it. Try to understand it before you look at the translation.

Lucía Javier, hoy es martes. ¿Vamos al centro? Javier, it's Tuesday. Shall we go downtown?

Javier Hoy no puedo. Tengo que limpiar la casa. I can't today. I have to clean the house.

Lucía ¿Y por la tarde? And in the afternoon?

Javier Por la tarde tengo que hacer la compra. In the afternoon I have to do the grocery shopping.

Lucía Yo también tengo que comprar pan. ¿Voy contigo al supermercado? I have to buy bread too. Shall I come to the supermarket with you?

Javier ¡Sí! A las cinco. Ahora pongo la lavadora. Yes! At five. Right now I'm putting a wash on.

Lucía Y yo tengo que ordenar mi casa. And I have to tidy up my place.

Javier Muy bien. A las cinco, en la puerta del supermercado. Great. At five, by the supermarket entrance.

Step 4 · Exercises

Check yourself

Listen. What did you hear?

1. How do you say “I have to study”?

2. A sign at the till says everyone pays here. How do you say it?

3. You tell a friend: “You shouldn't run here.” How do you say it?

4. How do you say “The students have to do their homework”?

Match each word with its translation

Build the sentence: “I have to clean the house”

Build the sentence: “You have to pay here”

Lesson summary

What you can do now

  • Say what you have to do: Tengo que estudiar.
  • State a general requirement: Hay que pagar aquí.
  • Say what someone shouldn't do: No debes correr aquí.
  • Talk about chores: Tengo que hacer la compra.

Key phrases of the lesson:

Tengo que estudiar.

Hay que pagar aquí.

No debes correr aquí.

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