"Tener que" and "Hay que" Flashcards
Tener que expresses obligation or necessity as "someone has to do something" (usually including a specific name or pronoun). "Hay que" expresses the general idea of "one must do something" or "it is necessary to do something with no subject so "hay" is used. (7 cards)
Tener que + infinitive
Specific
expresses obligation or necessity a specific person or pronoun. “Someone has to do something” and is conjugated according to the subject of the sentence
Hay que + infinitive
General
expresses the general idea of “one must do something” or, “it is necessary to do something.” There is no subject so “Hay” is used
General or Specific?
Tengo que comer las verduras
specific
I have to eat the vegetables
Tengo = I; specific someone has to do something
General or Specific?
Hay que tomar un taxi.
general
It is necessary to take a taxi.
“Hay” is used; it’s general
General or Specific?
Ángel tiene que leer el periódico
specific
Ángel has to read the newspaper
“Ángel” is a name; so it is specific
General or Specific?
Ellos tienen que comprar una revista
specific
They have to buy a magazine
“Ellos” may not be super specific but it is still a pronoun and “hay” isn’t used; it’s specific
General or Specific?
Hay que estudiar mucho
general
One must study a lot
general; “hay” is used
