Verb TER (to have)

Ter is an irregular verb in the present tense. This means it does not follow the standard rules. Most verbs ending in -er follow a predictable pattern. Ter likes to be different and unique. The root changes significantly, especially in the first person. You cannot just remove the -er and add an -o. Instead of tero, we say tenho. It feels a bit strange at first, but you will get used to it. The third-person plural also has a special secret. It uses a "hat" (a circumflex accent) to show it is plural. This is a tiny detail with a big impact. If you miss the hat, you change the grammar. It is like a secret code for native speakers.

1. 1Learning the forms of ter is like memorizing a short song. Follow these steps to conjugate it in the present tense:
2. 2Start with the "I" form: Eu tenho. Notice the nh sound, like the "ny" in "canyon".
3. 3Move to the singular "you/he/she" form: Você/Ele/Ela tem. This is short and simple.
4. 4Use the "we" form: Nós temos. This one actually looks quite regular!
5. 5Finish with the plural "you all/they" form: Vocês/Eles/Elas têm.
6. 6Wait, did you see that? The plural têm looks exactly like the singular tem. The only difference is the ^ accent. In speech, they sound the same. In writing, that little hat tells us there is more than one person. It is like a grammar traffic light. Green means go, and the accent means plural! Even native speakers forget this sometimes, so do not stress too much.

Use ter when you own something. Eu tenho um carro means "I have a car." This is the most basic use.

Use ter for your age. This is a huge trap for English speakers! In English, you "are" 20 years old. In Portuguese, you "have" 20 years. Eu tenho vinte anos. If you say Eu sou vinte anos, people will look at you very confused. You are not the years; you possess them.

Use ter for physical sensations. Are you hungry? In Portuguese, you "have hunger". Eu tenho fome. Are you thirsty? Eu tenho sede. Are you cold? Eu tenho frio. It is as if these feelings are objects you carry with you.

Use ter for existence in casual speech. In a cafe, you might ask: Tem café? This means "Is there coffee?". Formally, you should use haver, but in real life, everyone uses ter. It is the ultimate shortcut for travelers.

Do not use ter for permanent characteristics. If you are tall, use ser. Eu sou alto, not Eu tenho alto.

Do not use ter for temporary moods like sadness. If you are sad, use estar. Eu estou triste. You do not "have" sadness like you "have" hunger.

Do not use ter in very formal writing to mean "there is". If you are writing a legal document, use há. But if you are just chatting with a friend, ter is perfect. Using haver at a beach party might make you sound like a 19th-century poet. Keep it simple and use ter for daily life.

The biggest mistake is the age trap. Remember: you "have" years. Never say Eu sou 20 anos.

Another mistake is forgetting the plural accent. Eles tem is wrong. It must be Eles têm. It is a small mark, but it shows you know your stuff.

Mixing up tenho and temos is common too. Eu temos sounds like saying "I are" in English.

Finally, watch out for the nh sound. Some beginners pronounce tenho like "ten-ho". It should be one fluid sound. Think of the word "onion". That "ni" sound is very close to the Portuguese nh.

Compare ter with ser and estar. Ser is for who you are. Estar is for how you feel. Ter is for what you possess or carry.

Think of it this way:

• Eu sou brasileiro (Identity)
• Eu estou feliz (State of mind)
• Eu tenho um passaporte (Possession)

In English, "to be" covers age and hunger. In Portuguese, ter takes over those jobs. It is like ter went to a job interview and stole half of the work from the other verbs.

Also, compare ter with haver. They both mean "there is". However, ter is the cool, younger sibling used in the streets. Haver is the serious older sibling used in books. In Brazil, ter is king for existence.