New
New
Year 4

Age: 'tener' meaning 'be'

Learning outcomes

I can say how old I am and ask someone their age using 'tener'.

I can distinguish between the sounds [n] and [ñ].

New
New
Year 4

Age: 'tener' meaning 'be'

Learning outcomes

I can say how old I am and ask someone their age using 'tener'.

I can distinguish between the sounds [n] and [ñ].

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. The sounds [n] and [ñ] are pronounced differently.
  2. Numbers 1-12 go before the noun to indicate how many. Numbers don't change spelling for gender.
  3. The verb 'tener' means 'to have, having' and with certain nouns, it also means 'to be, being'.
  4. We combine 'tener + number + años' to talk about age.
  5. To ask someone's age, say '¿Cuántos años tienes?'.

Keywords

  • Tengo - means 'I have' and is part of the verb 'tener'; in certain expressions 'tengo' also means 'I am'

  • Tienes - means 'you have' and is part of the verb 'tener'; in certain expressions 'tienes' also means 'you are'

Common misconception

The verb 'tener' has one meaning, 'to have, having'.

The verb 'tener' means 'to have, having' and with certain nouns, it also means 'to be, being'.


To help you plan your year 4 Spanish lesson on: Age: 'tener' meaning 'be', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The last speaking exercise provides lots of opportunity to practise questioning and answering as well as numbers and 'tener' meaning 'to be, being' so can be repeated with different partners for additional practice.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which sound-spelling correspondence is missing from these words? _oche, ma_o, _ostros
Correct answer: n
ñ
Q2.
Match the Spanish and English.
Correct Answer:un cielo diferente,a different sky

a different sky

Correct Answer:el sol arriba,the sun above

the sun above

Correct Answer:el conejo amable,the kind rabbit

the kind rabbit

Correct Answer:la tortuga inteligente,the intelligent tortoise

the intelligent tortoise

Q3.
'I am hungry'. Which is the correct translation?
Tengo sed.
Correct answer: Tengo hambre.
Soy hambre.
Soy sed.
Estoy hambre.
Q4.
Order these words to say, 'I am right. You are ten years old'.
1 - tengo
2 - razón
3 - tienes
4 - diez
5 - años
Q5.
In which sentences does 'tener' mean 'to be, being'?
Correct answer: Tiene sed.
Tiene un estuche.
Correct answer: Tengo razón.
Tiene un libro.
Correct answer: Tengo hambre.
Q6.
Write in Spanish: 'You are thirsty'.
Correct Answer: Tienes sed., Tú tienes sed.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which sound-spelling correspondence is missing from these words? ma_ana, espa_ol, monta_a
n
Correct answer: ñ
Q2.
Match the Spanish and English.
Correct Answer:el cielo,the sky

the sky

Correct Answer:el sol,the sun

the sun

Correct Answer:arriba,above

above

Correct Answer:abajo,below

below

Correct Answer:medio,in the middle

in the middle

Q3.
What are the next three numbers in this sequence? dos, cuatro, seis .
ocho, nueve, diez
uno, dos, tres
siete, ocho, nueve
Correct answer: ocho, diez, doce
nueve, ocho, siete
Q4.
Match the Spanish and English.
Correct Answer:Tengo tres años.,I am three years old.

I am three years old.

Correct Answer:Tienes once años.,You are eleven years old.

You are eleven years old.

Correct Answer:Tengo un conejo inteligente.,I have an intelligent rabbit.

I have an intelligent rabbit.

Correct Answer:Tengo una tortuga amable.,I have a kind tortoise.

I have a kind tortoise.

Q5.
Which words do you need to translate the question 'How old are you'?
Correct answer: cuántos
eres
Correct answer: tienes
Correct answer: años
cuándo
Q6.
Write in Spanish: 'I am nine years old.'
Correct Answer: Tengo nueve años., Yo tengo nueve años.

Additional material

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