Lesson 38
by Ann Bogle
The verb "tener" (to have) (present tense)
I have a book.
You are hungry./You have hunger.
You have a big bed.
He has a wife.
She has a child.
We have a problem.
You have a house (plural, as in Spain)
You have a house (plural)
They have tickets for a trip to Spain.
I have a father.
You have a mother.
My house has three doors.
It has seven windows also.
We have time.
You have a pen.
They have some tickets for the ferry boat.
They have some gifts for their husbands.
(from onlingo by Henry N. Raymond)
I have a book.
You are hungry./You have hunger.
You have a big bed.
He has a wife.
She has a child.
We have a problem.
You have a house (plural, as in Spain)
You have a house (plural)
They have tickets for a trip to Spain.
I have a father.
You have a mother.
My house has three doors.
It has seven windows also.
We have time.
You have a pen.
They have some tickets for the ferry boat.
They have some gifts for their husbands.
(from onlingo by Henry N. Raymond)
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Author's Note
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this line hit nicely when it came--chuckle.
we have a problem, houston.
lots of cultural signifiers, here.
nice
Wonderful piece, Ann. Good form. Enjoyed.
Huh. I like the rhythm in Spanish too:
Tengo un libro.
Tienes hambre.
Tienes una cama grande.
El tiene una esposa.
Tenemos un problema.
Tienes unas casas.
Tienes una casa.
Tienen boletas para una viaje a Espana.
Tengo un padre.
Tienes una madre.
Mi casa tiene tres puertos,
y tambien tiene siete ventanas.
Tenemos tiempo.
Tienes una pluma.
Tienen unas boletas para la barquita.
Tienen unos regalos para sus esposos.
This is wonderful--and it hits right on the ways language exercises conjure up (conjugate up)an odd world somehow parallel to ours.
very much enjoyed. I also love "we have a problem" - I am intrigued with the form, and the way this works as a list poem, in a way. Very nice.
from book to parents to time to life... beautiful, thanks for this surprise conjugation.
i just returned to your 'tener' lines. so good to see them in second tongue. they remind me of the time when i learned some (basic) spanish.
Great, and I can tell because I wanted more. Very fine.
Thanks for your comments!
I found this "poem" and didn't write it; after I posted it, it suddenly reminded me of Jacques Prévert whom I hadn't thought of in years; I'd read his poetry in an early French class. That day I found his name on the cover page at Jacket, my favorite internet poetry magazine.
Thanks, Joshua, for the Spanish!
There's something magical for me about this. perhaps because it reminds me of early English lessons ("Peggy the giraffe had flu, and a cough, and sore throat, too," that sort of thing). And aren't most poems found (then dusted off and polished etc.)?
A fine poem, Ann. I really enjoyed it. The chop-chop of pronouns works well. Must have been a nice one to "find." I love how that happens from time to time with writing.
Missed this one. Glad I "found" it.
*
I love this poem and its meter or tempo, here very careful as a teacher would teach a lesson, timing as art form. It's wonderful in/with repetition.