how do you say had in the past tense
It will depend on whether you use the preterite or the imperfect. Check this site for both.
http://spanish.about.com/od/usingparticularverbs/a/tener.htm
When it comes to translation you should always give the context, or exactly how the word is used. True, it might be tuvo, tenía BUT if it's part of "had gone" or "had read" it is then the Past Perfect Tense!
Sra
To express the past tense of the verb "have," you say "had." Here's how you arrive at this answer:
1. Identify the verb: In this case, we have the verb "have."
2. Determine the present tense form: The present tense form of "have" is "have" itself.
3. Find the past tense form: To form the past tense of regular verbs, we add "ed" to the base form. However, "have" is an irregular verb, so it does not follow this rule.
4. Consult a verb conjugation chart or resource: A reliable source to consult is an English verb conjugation chart or a trusted grammar website. Look for the past tense conjugation of the verb "have," and you'll find that it is "had."
So, to summarize, the past tense of "have" is "had."