What does tener que plus infinitive show?

"Tener que" plus an infinitive in Spanish expresses obligation or necessity. It's similar to "have to" or "must" in English.

Here's a breakdown:

* Tener: This means "to have" in Spanish.

* Que: This is the conjunction "that".

* Infinitive: This is the base form of a verb (e.g., comer, hablar, escribir).

Example:

* Tengo que estudiar. (I have to study.)

Here, "tener que estudiar" shows that studying is necessary or obligatory for the speaker.

Other Examples:

* Tienes que ir al médico. (You have to go to the doctor.)

* Tenemos que comer algo. (We have to eat something.)

* Tienen que terminar el trabajo. (They have to finish the work.)

Note:

* Tener que is a more formal way of expressing obligation than "deber" (to owe).

* Tener que implies an external force or requirement, while "deber" can also imply a personal sense of duty.

I hope this explanation helps!