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Tener que/ tener porqué

 

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  #1  
Old July 28, 2011, 11:04 AM
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Tener que/ tener porqué

Is there a difference in the meaning of the two terms?
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  #2  
Old July 28, 2011, 11:19 AM
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Do you have a context? Because "que" is a conjunction and "porqué" is a noun meaning "reason". Maybe it was "tener por qué":

Tengo que hacerlo ---> I have to do it
No tengo por qué (hacerlo) --> There's no reason for me to do it
Tengo por qué (temer/desconfiar) ---> I have a reason to (fear/be distrustful)
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Old July 28, 2011, 11:22 AM
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Yes, most definitely.

- "tener que" means "to have to"
for example, "no tengo que ir" means "I don't have to go."

- "tener porqué" means "to have a reason"
for example, "no tengo porqué ir" means "I don't have a reason to go."
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Old July 28, 2011, 11:53 AM
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The context was:
2 + 2 no tiene porqué sumar 4
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Old July 28, 2011, 11:58 AM
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If you say "2 + 2 no tiene que sumar 4", you're saying that adding these two numbers don't have an obligation to be 4.

If you say "2 + 2 no tiene por qué sumar 4", it means there is no reason why 2 + 2 should add 4.
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Old July 28, 2011, 12:16 PM
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Los blogos de El País.

Hay un abuso de la frase hecha "(en tal o cual disciplina o situación) no siempre dos y dos suman cuatro" que se usa para decir que no hay que pensar linealmente. En este caso el autor -falta de ortografía mediante- dice que los contenidos de las neveras no respondían a los estereotipos personales que él tenía sobre sus poseedores. La frase es ridícula desde el punto de vista lógico y en el contexto en que se la usa, pero "tener por qué" significa y se usa tal cual lo hemos explicado.
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Last edited by aleCcowaN; July 28, 2011 at 01:42 PM. Reason: era un "él"
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Old July 28, 2011, 12:22 PM
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The word "porque" don't use accent and it is used when you're answering a question with a reason, it is like "because".
Ex: "Respondo esto porque quiero." --> "I answer this because I want to."

In the other hand "por qué" with a space and accent is used when you ask for a reason like "why" OR when you answer with a negation.
Ex: "¿Por qué dije eso?" --> "Why I said that?"
"No tengo por qué esperar." --> "I have no reason to wait."
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Old July 28, 2011, 01:24 PM
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Thank you everyone for explaining the difference between the two terms.
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