Express Upcoming Obligations with Tener Que
Obligations compete with plans in real schedules. Conjugate tener que before an infinitive, distinguish duties from preferences, and explain why an invitation may not work.
Learning objective
State future responsibilities with tener que and contrast them with optional plans.
An obligation is something a person needs or is required to do, rather than an activity chosen simply for enjoyment. Spanish expresses a personal obligation with a conjugated form of tener, followed by que and an infinitive: Tengo que trabajar means I have to work.
Conjugate tener for the person responsible: tengo, tienes, tiene, tenemos, tenéis, or tienen. Keep que in every form and leave the action as an infinitive. In Spain, tenéis can address an informal plural group; throughout most of Latin America, ustedes tienen supplies the everyday plural you form.
A future time phrase can place the obligation ahead even though tener itself is present tense. Mañana tengo que llevar el coche al taller clearly refers to tomorrow. Use ir a for an intended plan and tener que for a duty: Voy a ver una película, pero primero tengo que terminar un informe.
Negating the phrase changes its meaning. No tengo que trabajar can mean I do not have to work—that the obligation is absent—not necessarily that working is forbidden. To say must not in a strong rule, Spanish may use no se puede or está prohibido, depending on the situation.
Obligations often explain why a social plan fails, but a brief reason is sufficient. Lo siento, no puedo cenar porque tengo que cuidar a mi sobrino communicates the conflict clearly. Do not assume who normally performs a responsibility; state the actual person and task without gendered cultural generalisations.
Examples
Esta tarde tengo que recoger un paquete.
I have to pick up a parcel this afternoon.
The time phrase places the present structure in a future schedule.
Lucía tiene que llamar al dentista mañana.
Lucía has to call the dentist tomorrow.
Tiene agrees with the person who carries the responsibility.
Vamos a salir, pero antes tenemos que limpiar la cocina.
We’re going out, but first we have to clean the kitchen.
The sentence contrasts a plan with a prior obligation.
El viernes no tengo que madrugar, así que puedo ir.
I don’t have to get up early on Friday, so I can come.
The absent obligation makes the invitation possible.
Common mistake
- Instead of
- Mañana tengo que preparo la presentación.
- Try
- Mañana tengo que preparar la presentación.
A conjugated verb is a verb form changed to match the person performing the action. In tener que, only tener takes that changed form. After que, preparar remains an infinitive because it names the required action; using preparo would incorrectly change both verbs. The time marker mañana makes the future reference clear.
Practice
Try it yourself
Write two connected sentences from these notes: Saturday morning we must study; Saturday evening we plan to meet friends. Use tener que for the duty, ir a for the plan, and a connector showing order.