We express obligation when talking about things we have to do. Look at these examples:
Tengo que ir al colegio.
I have to go to school.
Tienes que comer sano.
You have to eat healthily.
Tiene que salir ahora.
He has to leave now.
Tenemos que salir todos los días.
We have to go out every day.
Note that when you use tener que + infinitivo it means to have to + infinitive.
You cannot omit que!
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Tengo que ir al colegio.
I have to go to school.
Tienes que comer sano.
You have to eat healthily.
Tienen que llegar a tiempo.
They have to arrive on time.
Tenéis que hacer la compra.
You have to do the shopping.
Tiene que salir ahora.
He has to leave now.
Tenemos que salir todos los días.
We have to go out every day.
Q&A
Gene
Kwiziq community member
5/11/17
Do you mean, "hace falta comer" or "il faut s'alimenter"?
The difference is between obligation and necessity (or a want of something).
https://www.thoughtco.com/expressing-obligation-spanish-3079893
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKFTh4tly38
There are instances where there is no difference in meaning:
tenemos que ir rápido
hace falta ir rápido
Alexander
Kwiziq community member
27 September 2018
2 replies
Lack of necessity a postetiori
Hola))
What is a Spanish equivalent for needn't have (done)?
Inma
Kwiziq language super star
28 September 2018
28/09/18
Hi Alexander,
Could you give me a bit of context so I can be more accurate in my reply please?
Inma
Alexander
Kwiziq community member
28 September 2018
28/09/18
Hola Inma!
didn't need to (infinitive) & needn't have (past participle) are used to express the lack of necessity in the past, however
didn't need implies that the speaker didn't do something because he/she new that it was not necessary
needn't have means the speaker did something and then he/she knew that it had not been necessary
for example:
I didn't need to have an interview because I had worked there before
I needn't have cooked dinner. Just as it was ready, Chris and June phoned to say that they couldn't come to eat
(examples are taken from Advanced Grammar in Use by Martin Hewings)
How can I express it in Spanish?
Regards,
Alexander