NIS Beginners 10 - tengo un hambre vs tengo hambre

[clint9090]

Hola a todos,

In NIS Beginners lesson 10, toward the end o the podcast, it sounds like Ben and Marina say "tengo un hambre que no veas." I've read and heard "tengo hambre" before, but not "tengo un hambre." What's the "un" doing in there? Is it necessary, and if so, why?

Gracias,
Clint

[delgado]

Hola a todos,

In NIS Beginners lesson 10, toward the end o the podcast, it sounds like Ben and Marina say "tengo un hambre que no veas." I've read and heard "tengo hambre" before, but not "tengo un hambre." What's the "un" doing in there? Is it necessary, and if so, why?

Gracias,
Clint

The "un" is there because you are not just describing your state...

Eg. tengo hambre (I'm hungry)

but , the hunger itself aswell...

Eg. tengo un hambre que no veas (I have a hunger that you wouldn't believe).

Imagine if you were to (incorrectly) say... "tengo hambre que no veas" (i'm hungry that you wouldn't believe)
:confused:

It sounds a bit strange translated into English , but I think that this is the easiest way to explain it.

Does that make sense?

[clint9090]

Thanks for clearing that up for me delgado! That makes perfect sense.

-Clint