Introduction
This article explains how to form and use simple Spanish questions that start from the verb Tengo in everyday beginner contexts. You will learn common question patterns, useful vocabulary, short dialogues, and practical tips to ask and answer questions about possession, age, needs, and obligations using clear Latin American Spanish.
- Why focus on Tengo?
- Common question words to use with Tengo
- Age questions with Tengo
- Questions about feelings, sensations, and health
- Questions about needs and wants
- Questions in daily service situations
- Beginner tips for forming questions with Tengo
- Practice exercises for beginners
- Short useful phrase list with Tengo
- Conclusion
Why focus on Tengo?
Tengo is the first person singular present form of tener, one of the most used verbs in Spanish. It appears in many common questions and expressions: stating age, obligations, sensations, and possessions. For beginners, mastering question patterns with tengo unlocks many real-life interactions like telling your age, asking for help, or explaining a problem.
Basic structure of questions with Tengo
Spanish questions can use intonation, question marks, or question words. With statements built from Tengo, beginners often convert declarations into questions by changing intonation or adding a question word at the start.
Examples:
Tengo mi boleto. -> Tengo mi boleto? (Do I have my ticket?)
Tengo dolor. -> ¿Tengo dolor? (Do I feel pain?)
Common question words to use with Tengo
Start questions with these useful question words. Each one can pair naturally with Tengo for everyday situations.
Qué — asks for information or explanation: ¿Tengo que…? (Do I have to…?)
Cuánto / Cuánta / Cuántos / Cuántas — asks for quantity or age: ¿Cuántos años tengo? (How old am I?)
Por qué — asks for reason: ¿Por qué tengo que esperar? (Why do I have to wait?)
Cómo — asks about condition or manner: ¿Cómo tengo que escribirlo? (How should I write it?)
Dónde — asks about location when paired with possession: ¿Dónde tengo las llaves? (Where do I have the keys?)
Question type: Do I have…?
Use this to check possession or confirm information. Structure: ¿Tengo + object + ?
Examples:
¿Tengo mi pasaporte? (Do I have my passport?)
¿Tengo suficiente dinero? (Do I have enough money?)
¿Tengo una reserva a mi nombre? (Do I have a reservation under my name?)
Question type: Do I have to…?/Must I…?
Use ¿Qué + tengo que…? or ¿Tengo que…? to ask about obligations or rules. This form is essential in service situations, forms, and instructions.
Examples:
¿Tengo que presentar identificación? (Do I have to show ID?)
¿Tengo que pagar ahora? (Do I have to pay now?)
¿Qué tengo que traer para la clase? (What do I have to bring to class?)
Age questions with Tengo
Spanish speakers often say Tengo + age to state how old they are. To form a question about age, use Cuántos / Cuántas followed by años and tengo.
Examples:
¿Cuántos años tengo? (How old am I?)
¿Cuántos años tiene mi hijo? (How old is my son?) — note this uses tiene for third person, useful to recognize related patterns.
Practical age contexts
At immigration desks, clinics, or school forms, you might need to ask or confirm ages.
Example dialogue:
Empleado: ¿Cuántos años tiene?
Paciente: Tiene diez años.
Visitor: ¿Cuántos años tengo yo ahora? (When joking about age with friends.)
Questions about feelings, sensations, and health
Tengo is also used for physical states: Tengo hambre, Tengo frío, Tengo dolor. You can form basic questions to describe or ask about symptoms.
Examples:
¿Tengo fiebre? (Do I have a fever?)
¿Por qué tengo dolor de cabeza? (Why do I have a headache?)
¿Cómo sé si tengo alergia? (How do I know if I have an allergy?)
Simple medical interaction
Short realistic exchange at a pharmacy or clinic:
Cliente: ¿Tengo que mostrar mi receta?
Farmacéutico: Sí, por favor. ¿Tiene dolor aquí? — point to a location.
Cliente: Sí, tengo dolor en la espalda.
Questions about needs and wants
Use Tengo que or Tengo ganas de to discuss obligations and desires. To ask someone what they need or whether they must do something, form questions like:
¿Tengo que esperar mucho? (Do I have to wait long?)
¿Qué tengo que hacer para registrarme? (What do I have to do to register?)
¿Tengo ganas de comer ahora? -> ¿Tengo ganas de comer ahora? (Do I feel like eating now?) — used more to check yourself or with friends
Useful vocabulary for needs
Documento — document
Recibo — receipt
Formulario — form
Identificación — identification
Pago — payment
Questions in daily service situations
Many beginner interactions involve asking if you have something, need something, or must do something. Here are practical examples that you can use at hotels, restaurants, banks, and transportation hubs.
Hotel:
¿Tengo una reserva? (Do I have a reservation?)
¿Qué tengo que mostrar para el check-in? (What do I have to show for check-in?)
Restaurant:
¿Tengo una mesa para dos? (Do I have a table for two?)
¿Tengo que pagar por adelantado? (Do I have to pay in advance?)
Bank:
¿Tengo cuenta en este banco? (Do I have an account at this bank?)
¿Qué tengo que traer para abrir una cuenta? (What do I have to bring to open an account?)
Airport:
¿Tengo equipaje para facturar? (Do I have luggage to check?)
¿Cuántas maletas tengo permitidas? (How many suitcases am I allowed?)
Tip: Use polite forms
When asking staff, add por favor to be polite: ¿Tengo que llenar este formulario, por favor? Using por favor and gracias makes interactions smoother.
Beginner tips for forming questions with Tengo
Tip 1: Remember subject pronouns are often omitted. The verb form Tengo already shows the subject yo, so you do not need yo in the sentence.
Tip 2: Use question marks at start and end: Spanish requires opening ¿ and closing ? in writing. For beginners writing informally, include them to learn structure.
Tip 3: Intonation alone can make a question in speech. Raise your voice at the end for yes/no questions: ¿Tengo tiempo? vs Tengo tiempo.
Tip 4: Learn related verb forms for recognition: tengo (I have), tienes (you have), tiene (he/she/it has), tenemos (we have). Questions you hear might use these forms for other people.
Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake: Using yo with tengo in questions unnecessarily: Incorrect: ¿Yo tengo que ir? Better: ¿Tengo que ir? You can use Yo for emphasis: Yo ¿tengo que ir? but it is less common.
Mistake: Forgetting question word order: Incorrect: ¿Tengo qué que hacer? Better: ¿Qué tengo que hacer? Place the question word first.
Mistake: Mixing up tener que and deber. Tener que expresses external obligation: ¿Tengo que pagar? Deber can express moral obligation: ¿Debo pagar? Both are correct but slightly different in tone.
Practice exercises for beginners
Exercise 1: Translate and practice saying these yes/no questions out loud.
¿Tengo suficiente crédito en mi tarjeta?
¿Tengo que firmar aquí?
¿Tengo que cambiar de tren?
Exercise 2: Fill-in-the-blank: Choose the correct question word.
_____ tengo que traer para la clase? (Qué)
¿_____ años tengo? (Cuántos)
¿_____ tengo que esperar? (Cuánto/Cuánta)
Exercise 3: Role play short dialogues. One person is a customer, the other is staff. Use at least two questions with tengo in each role play.
Short useful phrase list with Tengo
¿Tengo que pagar ahora? — Do I have to pay now?
¿Tengo cambio? — Do I have change? (Used when asking if you have smaller bills or coins)
¿Tengo que llenar este formulario? — Do I have to fill out this form?
¿Cuántos años tengo? — How old am I?
¿Dónde tengo que firmar? — Where do I have to sign?
Conclusion
Questions built from Tengo are essential for beginners because they cover possession, obligations, sensations, and basic needs. Practice the patterns, memorize related vocabulary, and use simple role plays to build confidence. With these concrete examples and tips you will be ready to ask clear, polite questions in everyday Latin American Spanish situations.
