contener
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Presente
Presente
Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.
| yo | contengo |
| tú | contienes |
| él/ella | contiene |
| nosotros | contenemos |
| vosotros | contenéis |
| ellos/ellas | contienen |
El frasco contiene agua.
The jar contains water.
Estos libros contienen mucha información.
These books contain a lot of information.
2.Pretérito Indefinido
Pretérito Indefinido
Completed actions at a specific point in the past.
| yo | contuve |
| tú | contuviste |
| él/ella | contuvo |
| nosotros | contuvimos |
| vosotros | contuvisteis |
| ellos/ellas | contuvieron |
La caja contuvo sorpresas para todos.
The box contained surprises for everyone.
El informe contuvo datos importantes.
The report contained important data.
3.Imperfecto
Imperfecto
Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.
| yo | contenía |
| tú | contenías |
| él/ella | contenía |
| nosotros | conteníamos |
| vosotros | conteníais |
| ellos/ellas | contenían |
El libro contenía historias fascinantes.
The book contained fascinating stories.
Cuando era niño, la caja siempre contenía juguetes.
When I was a child, the box always contained toys.
4.Futuro Simple
Futuro Simple
Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.
| yo | contendré |
| tú | contendrás |
| él/ella | contendrá |
| nosotros | contendremos |
| vosotros | contendréis |
| ellos/ellas | contendrán |
El nuevo proyecto contendrá muchas innovaciones.
The new project will contain many innovations.
El paquete contendrá todos los materiales necesarios.
The package will contain all the necessary materials.
5.Condicional
Condicional
Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
| yo | contendría |
| tú | contendrías |
| él/ella | contendría |
| nosotros | contendríamos |
| vosotros | contendríais |
| ellos/ellas | contendrían |
Si lo abrieras, contendría sorpresas.
If you opened it, it would contain surprises.
El libro podría contener información valiosa.
The book could contain valuable information.
6.Subjuntivo Presente
Subjuntivo Presente
Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.
| yo | contenga |
| tú | contengas |
| él/ella | contenga |
| nosotros | contengamos |
| vosotros | contengáis |
| ellos/ellas | contengan |
Es importante que el documento contenga todos los detalles.
It's important that the document contains all the details.
Quiero que la caja contenga algo especial.
I want the box to contain something special.
7.Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.
| yo | contuviera |
| tú | contuvieras |
| él/ella | contuviera |
| nosotros | contuviéramos |
| vosotros | contuvierais |
| ellos/ellas | contuvieran |
Si el libro contuviera más ejemplos, sería mejor.
If the book contained more examples, it would be better.
Ojalá que la receta contuviera menos ingredientes.
I wish the recipe contained fewer ingredients.
"contener" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "contener" regular or irregular in Spanish?
- "contener" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -er conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
- How do you conjugate "contener" in the present tense?
- In the Presente, "contener" conjugates as: contienes, contengo, contienen, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "contener" in Spanish?
- In the Pretérito Indefinido, "contener" conjugates as: contuviste, contuve, contuvieron, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "contener" in Spanish?
- "contener" (to contain, to hold) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.