More whining about language

Consider, for a moment, the ubiquitous Spanish verb "tener". In your naive innocence, you may be thinking that this word simply means "to have", or "to hold". Indeed it does mean those things. But, depending on the context, it can mean so much more. Here is just a partial list of other verbs which can be substituted for "tener", depending on the particular context in which it appears:

1. mostrar
2. presentar
3. sufrir
4. conservar
5. alcanzar
6. conseguir
7. lograr
8. adquirir
9. ofrecer
10. ocupar
11. llevar
12. buscar a
13. tender a
14. perseguir
15. mantener
16. retener
17. ganar
18. alimentar
19. soñar con
20. heredar
21. padecer
22. contraer
23. fichar
24. ejercer
25. desempeñar
26. llevar a cabo
27. attraer
28. alojar
29. dar
30. proporcionar
31. profesar
32. compartir
33. producir
34. vivir
35. soportar
36. sostener
37. conocer
38. hundir
39. cobrar
40. percibir
41. arrastrar
42. medir
43. emitir
44. sacar
45. lucir
46. exhibir
47. exhalar
48. desprender
49. incluir
50. englobar
51. hacer
52. despertar
53. atravesar
54. alimentarse de
55. escondir
56. cumplir
57. jugar
58. guardar
59. archivar
60. presumir de
61. vanagloriarse de
62. conservar
63. exponer
64. sostenerse
65. mantenerse
66. acarrear
67. coger
68. contagiarse

and whatever you're having yourself.

Don't believe me? Think I'm making this up, self-pitying whiner that I am? What would it take to convince you? Perhaps you'd like to see all of the sentences with 'tener', and the appropriate substitutions. Well, hold on - I'll be happy to oblige. But it may take a while.

Don't even get me started on 'hacer'. Gaaaaaah!!!!!