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usage.obligation-tener-que

Tener que: personal obligation

Tener que + infinitive is the everyday 'have to': tengo que renovar el carnet. Past: tuve que (and did) vs tenía que (was supposed to).

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Explanation

The default obligation in speech, personal and concrete: tenés que firmar acá, tenemos que salir ya. Negated = don't have to (not mustn't): no tenés que venir si no querés.

Preterite tuve que implies it happened (tuve que esperar dos horas); imperfect tenía que leaves it open (tenía que llamar y me olvidé).

This is the default 'have to' of speech, personal and concrete. Watch two traps: negated, no tenés que venir means 'you don't have to' (not 'you mustn't'); and the past splits by aspect — preterite tuve que implies it actually happened (tuve que esperar dos horas), while imperfect tenía que leaves it open (tenía que llamar y me olvidé).

Examples

Tengo que estar en el consulado a las ocho.
I have to be at the consulate at eight.

Region: global

Tuvimos que cambiar de plan.
We had to change plans.

Region: global

Tuve que esperar dos horas, pero al final firmé.
I had to wait two hours, but I signed in the end.

Region: global

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