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The verb tener changes its meaning depending on whether it is used in El Pretérito Imperfecto or in El Pretérito Indefinido.
Tener in El Pretérito Imperfecto
Read and listen to these examples with verb tener in El Pretérito Imperfecto:
In the examples above, there is no definite beginning or end for the actions.
Tener in El Pretérito Indefinido
Now, read and listen to these examples with verb tener in El Pretérito Indefinido:
In the examples above, the verb "tener" is used with a stronger nuance meaning to get or to receive. Moreover, it conveys the idea that the situations described above are no longer current, and that at the moment of speaking things are different.
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