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      Film-making: 'tuve', 'tuviste', 'tuvo'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use preterite forms of 'tener' to discuss the work of Spanish filmmaker Icíar Bollaín.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. The verb 'tener' has an irregular stem in the preterite tense.
      2. The singular preterite forms of 'tener' are 'tuve', 'tuviste' and 'tuvo'.
      3. 'Tener' does not always translate as 'having'. In idiomatic expressions it can mean 'to be, being', e.g. 'tuve éxito'.

      Keywords

      • Preterite tense - used for completed actions in the past

      • Tuve - I had

      • Tuviste - you had

      • Tuvo - she, he, it had

      • Idiomatic expression - a saying that does not always have a literal meaning and does not always translate directly into another language

      Common misconception

      The verb 'tener' always translates as 'to have, having'.

      The verb 'tener' does not always translates as 'to have, having'. For example, in idiomatic expressions it can mean 'to be, being', e.g. 'tuve éxito' - 'I was successful'.

      Teacher tip

      You could include posters and trailers of the films referenced, 'También la lluvia' and 'Maixabel', to enhance the cultural content of the lesson.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), 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

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which word is the opposite of 'gordo'?

      Correct answer: delgado
      difícil
      genial
      joven
      pálido

      Q2.
      Order the numbers from smallest to largest.

      1 - veinte
      2 - treinta
      3 - cuarenta
      4 - cincuenta
      5 - sesenta
      6 - setenta
      7 - ochenta

      Q3.
      Match the Spanish and English.

      Correct Answer:atacar,to attack, attacking
      Correct Answer:aumentar,to increase, increasing
      Correct Answer:considerar,to consider, considering
      Correct Answer:conocer,to know, get to know
      Correct Answer:mostrar,to show, showing
      Correct Answer:pensar,to think, thinking

      Q4.
      Match the Spanish and English.

      Correct Answer:beneficio (m),benefit
      Correct Answer:batalla (f),battle
      Correct Answer:ojo (m),eye
      Correct Answer:oro (m),gold
      Correct Answer:piel (f),skin
      Correct Answer:rey (m),king

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'un imperio peruano'.

      Correct Answer: a Peruvian empire

      Q6.
      Write in Spanish: 'you (plural) are from Peru'.

      Correct Answer: sois de Perú, vosotros sois de Perú, vosotras sois de Perú

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the Spanish and English.

      Correct Answer:tener,to have, having
      Correct Answer:tuve,I had
      Correct Answer:tuviste,you had
      Correct Answer:tuvo,she, he, it had

      Q2.
      Match the Spanish and English.

      Correct Answer:tener calor,to be hot
      Correct Answer:tener miedo,to be afraid
      Correct Answer:tener razón,to be right, correct
      Correct Answer:tener sueño,to be sleepy, tired

      Q3.
      Write in English: 'tuve éxito'.

      Correct Answer: I was successful

      Q4.
      Write in Spanish: 'you were lucky'.

      Correct Answer: tuviste suerte, tú tuviste suerte

      To help you plan your 9 Spanish lesson on: Film-making: 'tuve', 'tuviste', 'tuvo', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...