What does "Mi prima Susana y so novio no tienen hasta los ocho porque ella tiene/ viene que trabajar." mean and which word is correct (tiene/viene)?
Something is missing but here's what it says as you have it written:
Susan and her suitor (bridesman, fiancé) have until 8 because she has/is coming to work. The verb to use is has.
It is either "tiene que trabajar" = she has to work OR
She is coming to work = "viene a trabajar"
Sra
'My cousin Susan and her boyfriend have not until eight because she has to work. "
It should be "su novio"
You need to change "tienen hasta" ... this does not say what you want to say.
I made a mistake. It should read: "Mi prima Susana y so novio no vienen hasta los ocho porque ella ___________ que trabajar." The blank should be filled in with a form of venir or tener. Thanks!
In that case you need "tiene"
There is an idiom using any form of the infinitive TENER + que + any infinitive to mean "someone" has to "do something."
Examples: Tengo que ir = I have to (must) go
Tú tienes que estudiar = you have to (must) study
Él tiene que jugar = he has to (must) play
Nosotros tenemos que comer. = We have to (must) eat.
Ustedes tienen que comprender. = You all have to (must) understand.
Sorry, I missed te word "prima" the first time!
Sra
it is still "su novio" = su = his, her, its, their but in this case "her fiancé" The trend nowadays is to translate "novio" as boyfriend, sweetheart, etc. although most dictionaries will say "suitor, fiancé, bridegroom.
Sra
Thank you for the explanation and the proper word. :-) I'm not quite sure I have the meaning of the sentence, though. This is what I am understanding:
"My cousin Susana and her boyfriend don't come at eight o'clock because she has to work." Is this correct? Thanks so much!
The sentence "Mi prima Susana y su novio no tienen hasta los ocho porque ella tiene/viene que trabajar" is a combination of Spanish and English. It translates to "My cousin Susana and her boyfriend don't have until eight because she has/comes to work."
Based on the given context, the correct word to use in this sentence is "tiene." The sentence suggests that Susana has to work, which indicates that she has a job or duties that prevent her from having something. Therefore, "tiene" (meaning "has") is the appropriate word choice in this case.
As for the word "viene," it means "comes." Since the sentence is discussing Susana's need to work, the use of "viene" (meaning "comes") doesn't fit the context, so it would not be the correct word choice in this sentence.