"Tenía" is the first and third person singular imperfect form of the verb "tener," which means "to have." It indicates possession, age, or obligation in the past. The imperfect tense denotes actions that were ongoing or habitual in the past rather than completed.
Frequency of use: The word "tenía" is quite common in both oral and written contexts, especially in narratives or conversations where past events or situations are described. It is frequently used in storytelling or descriptions of past states or conditions.
When I was a child, I had a dog who was my best friend.
Ella sabía que él tenía muchas responsabilidades en el trabajo.
She knew that he had many responsibilities at work.
Ayer, no tenía tiempo para comer porque estaba muy ocupado.
Although "tenía" itself is not typically part of fixed idiomatic expressions, the verb "tener," from which it derives, is frequently used in various idiomatic phrases. Here are some examples that involve the broader aspect of "tener":
Ejemplo: Ella tiene la sartén por el mango en la reunión.
Tener dos dedos de frente.
Ejemplo: Si tuvieras dos dedos de frente, no harías eso.
Tener un corazón de piedra.
The verb "tener" comes from the Latin "tenere," which means "to hold" or "to keep." It has evolved in Spanish through phonetic shifts and changes typical of language evolution over centuries.