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Introducing yourself: ser and tener
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Two verbs get you started in Spanish: ser (to be) and tener (to have). Spanish uses tener for your age.
Saying who you are
Me llamo Sam. = My name is Sam.
Tengo quince años. = I am fifteen. In Spanish you have years.
Vivo en Londres. = I live in London.
Soy de Inglaterra. = I am from England.
Tengo quince años. = I am fifteen. In Spanish you have years.
Vivo en Londres. = I live in London.
Soy de Inglaterra. = I am from England.
Ser and tener
Both are irregular. Learn them.
No pronoun needed
The verb ending shows who is doing the action, so Spanish often drops the pronoun.
Tengo un hermano = I have a brother. You do not need yo.
Tengo un hermano = I have a brother. You do not need yo.
Translate: My brother is twelve years old.
- My brother = mi hermano
- Age uses tener: he has = tiene
- twelve years = doce años
Answer: Mi hermano tiene doce años.
Me llamo for your name. Use tener for age: tengo quince años. Learn ser (soy, eres, es...) and tener (tengo, tienes, tiene...).
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
Check you have got it
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