mantener
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 | mantengo |
| tú | mantienes |
| él/ella | mantiene |
| nosotros | mantenemos |
| vosotros | mantenéis |
| ellos/ellas | mantienen |
Yo mantengo mi casa limpia todos los días.
I keep my house clean every day.
Ella mantiene una buena relación con sus amigos.
She maintains a good relationship with her friends.
2.Pretérito Indefinido
Pretérito Indefinido
Completed actions at a specific point in the past.
| yo | mantuve |
| tú | mantuviste |
| él/ella | mantuvo |
| nosotros | mantuvimos |
| vosotros | mantuvisteis |
| ellos/ellas | mantuvieron |
Ayer mantuve la calma durante la reunión.
Yesterday, I maintained my composure during the meeting.
Él mantuvo su promesa de ayudarme.
He kept his promise to help me.
3.Imperfecto
Imperfecto
Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.
| yo | mantenía |
| tú | mantenías |
| él/ella | mantenía |
| nosotros | manteníamos |
| vosotros | manteníais |
| ellos/ellas | mantenían |
Cuando era niño, mantenía un diario.
When I was a child, I kept a diary.
Nosotros manteníamos la tradición familiar cada año.
We maintained the family tradition every year.
4.Futuro Simple
Futuro Simple
Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.
| yo | mantendré |
| tú | mantendrás |
| él/ella | mantendrá |
| nosotros | mantendremos |
| vosotros | mantendréis |
| ellos/ellas | mantendrán |
Mañana mantendré el jardín en buen estado.
Tomorrow, I will maintain the garden in good condition.
Ellos mantendrán el secreto hasta el final.
They will keep the secret until the end.
5.Condicional
Condicional
Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
| yo | mantendría |
| tú | mantendrías |
| él/ella | mantendría |
| nosotros | mantendríamos |
| vosotros | mantendríais |
| ellos/ellas | mantendrían |
Si tuviera tiempo, mantendría mi coche mejor.
If I had time, I would maintain my car better.
Ella mantendría su compromiso si no estuviera tan ocupada.
She would keep her commitment if she weren't so busy.
6.Subjuntivo Presente
Subjuntivo Presente
Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.
| yo | mantenga |
| tú | mantengas |
| él/ella | mantenga |
| nosotros | mantengamos |
| vosotros | mantengáis |
| ellos/ellas | mantengan |
Es importante que yo mantenga la calma en situaciones difíciles.
It's important that I keep calm in difficult situations.
Espero que ellos mantengan su palabra.
I hope that they keep their word.
7.Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.
| yo | mantuviera |
| tú | mantuvieras |
| él/ella | mantuviera |
| nosotros | mantuviéramos |
| vosotros | mantuvierais |
| ellos/ellas | mantuvieran |
Si yo mantuviera el ritmo, podría terminar a tiempo.
If I maintained the pace, I could finish on time.
Ojalá que ella mantuviera su entusiasmo por el proyecto.
I wish she maintained her enthusiasm for the project.
"mantener" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "mantener" regular or irregular in Spanish?
- "mantener" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -er conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
- How do you conjugate "mantener" in the present tense?
- In the Presente, "mantener" conjugates as: mantienes, mantengo, mantienen, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "mantener" in Spanish?
- In the Pretérito Indefinido, "mantener" conjugates as: mantuviste, mantuve, mantuvieron, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "mantener" in Spanish?
- "mantener" (to maintain, to keep) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.