Quick answer
Tem is singular; têm adds the circumflex to mark a plural subject.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
tem
has, singular
Use tem for the present form of ter with ele, ela, or você.
têm
have, plural
Use têm for the present form of ter with eles, elas, or vocês.
How to choose
- tem: Choose tem if the sentence points to the present form of ter with ele, ela, or você.
- têm: Choose têm if the sentence points to the present form of ter with eles, elas, or vocês.
Examples
Ela tem duas irmãs.
She has two sisters.
Elas têm dois irmãos.
They have two brothers.
Common trap
The sound is normally the same. Find the subject rather than relying on pronunciation.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with tem, then once with têm. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
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