contener Imperfect Conjugation
contener — to contain
The imperfect of contener is completely regular: contenía, contenías, contenía, conteníamos, conteníais, contenían.
contener Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe what something used to contain over a period of time or to set the scene (e.g., 'the bottle contained a strange liquid').
Notes on contener in the Imperfect
Unlike the present and preterite, the imperfect is regular for all verbs ending in -tener.
Example Sentences
Antes, el frasco contenía caramelos.
Before, the jar used to contain candies.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros conteníamos la respiración cada vez que pasaba.
We used to hold our breath every time he passed by.
nosotros
Las cartas contenían secretos familiares.
The letters contained family secrets.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: contenia (without accent)
Correct: contenía
Why: All -er verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the 'í' for every person.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: contengo
The present of contener follows the 'tener' pattern: contengo, contienes, contiene, contenemos, contenéis, contienen.
Preterite
yo: contuve
The preterite uses the irregular 'tuv' stem: contuve, contuviste, contuvo, contuvimos, contuvisteis, contuvieron.
Future
yo: contendré
The future uses the irregular stem 'contendr-': contendré, contendrás, contendrá, contendremos, contendréis, contendrán.
Conditional
yo: contendría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'contendr-': contendría, contendrías, contendría, contendríamos, contendríais, contendrían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: contenga
The present subjunctive is based on the 'yo' form: contenga, contengas, contenga, contengamos, contengáis, contengan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: contuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'contuv-' stem: contuviera, contuvieras, contuviera, contuviéramos, contuvierais, contuvieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: contén
Direct commands for contener: contén (tú), contenga (usted), contened (vosotros), contengan (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no contengas
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no contengas, no contenga, no contengamos, no contengáis, no contengan.