Agreement in gender and number

Paris K.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Agreement in gender and number

hi room and experts

Please clarify why 'tener  + participio cases' must have agreement in gender and number with the noun acting as a direct object,  whereas  this rule does not apply in  'haber + participio cases'


For example  -  Tienes ya pensada la estrategia para convencer a Inés? - (show agreement)


He pintado dos habitaciones. (does not show agreement)

Asked 4 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Paris

The reason why there is agreement whith "tener + participio" is because that participle is acting as an adjective to the noun. Adjectives always agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. 

Tengo leídas cuatro páginas del libro. 

If you change the placement you can see it better as an adjective I think:

Tengo cuatro páginas leídas del libro.

It is as if we are saying "Cuatro páginas del libro están leídas." Also an adjective here with estar, and agreeing.

When we use the compound tenses using haber + participle, this is not the case as you know. Here its function is not an adjective at all. It is part of the verb structure. It doesn't need agreement at all. 

He leído cuatro páginas.

We have this B1 lesson that may help

Participles as adjectives

I hope this helps.

Saludos

Inma

Agreement in gender and number

hi room and experts

Please clarify why 'tener  + participio cases' must have agreement in gender and number with the noun acting as a direct object,  whereas  this rule does not apply in  'haber + participio cases'


For example  -  Tienes ya pensada la estrategia para convencer a Inés? - (show agreement)


He pintado dos habitaciones. (does not show agreement)

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