Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish (109 page)

You can also ask the question “¿Qué tiene?” which means “What’s wrong with him?” (
What has he got?
) “¿Qué tiene?” means “What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with him? What’s wrong with her?” “Qué tiene Carlos?” means “What’s wrong with Charles?”

“Tengo ganas de …” means “I feel like …” and is used with the infinitive.

Tiene un año.
He’s a year old
(
He has one year
).

Tiene dos años.
He’s two years old
.

¿Cuántos años tiene?
How old is he?
(
How many years has he?
)

Tiene diez años.
He’s ten years old
.

Don’t forget that “tiene” is the third man form singular and refers to anybody but yourself.

“Tener que …” means “to have to …”

Tengo que trabajar.
I have to work
.

“Tener” is used in still another expression: “Tengo mucho que hacer” means “I have a lot to do” (I have a lot of work).

Uses of QUERER,
to want, to love
.

Remember that “querer” (
to want
) is used with the infinitive in Spanish just as it’s used in English.

When “querer” means “to love,” it is followed by a personal “a.”

Uses of PODER,
to be able

Remember that in Spanish we do not say, “I can go”; we say, “puedo ir” (
I can to go
). ALL FORMS OF “PODER” ARE FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE.

It is very, very important to remember that all forms of “poder” are followed by the infinitive.

Uses of HACER,
to do, to make
.

In Spanish we do not say “It’s hot.” Instead, we say, “Hace calor” (
It makes heat
).

“Hace” is also the equivalent of “ago.”

Sometimes Spanish-speaking people say, “eight days ago,” instead of “a week ago,” and “fifteen days ago,” instead of “two weeks ago.” Why? Heaven only knows.