contener Negative Imperative Conjugation
contener — to contain
Negative commands use the present subjunctive: no contengas, no contenga, no contengamos, no contengáis, no contengan.
contener Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to hold back or not to include something in a container.
Notes on contener in the Negative Imperative
All forms use the 'conteng-' stem from the present subjunctive.
Example Sentences
No contengas tus lágrimas, es bueno llorar.
Don't hold back your tears; it's good to cry.
tú
No contengan el aliento todavía.
Don't hold your breath yet.
ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: no contén
Correct: no contengas
Why: Negative commands never use the affirmative imperative form; they always use the subjunctive.
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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.
Imperfect
yo: contenía
The imperfect of contener is completely regular: contenía, contenías, contenía, conteníamos, conteníais, contenían.
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).