mantener Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
mantener — to keep
The imperative has a short 'tú' form: mantén, and uses subjunctive forms for others.
mantener Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use this to give direct orders or advice, like telling someone to keep their eyes open.
Notes on mantener in the Affirmative Imperative
The informal 'tú' command is shortened to 'mantén' (with an accent). Other forms are identical to the present subjunctive.
Example Sentences
¡Mantén la calma!
Keep calm!
tú
Mantenga la puerta cerrada, por favor.
Keep the door closed, please.
Mantened la posición.
Hold your position.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: mantiene
Correct: mantén
Why: While most verbs use the 'él' form for 'tú' commands, verbs ending in -tener use the shortened -tén form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: mantengo
Mantener has a 'go' in the yo form and an e-to-ie stem change for others: mantengo, mantienes, mantiene.
Preterite
yo: mantuve
The preterite of mantener is highly irregular, using a 'uv' stem: mantuve, mantuviste, mantuvo, mantuvimos, mantuvisteis, mantuvieron.
Imperfect
yo: mantenía
Mantener is regular in the imperfect: mantenía, mantenías, mantenía.
Future
yo: mantendré
The future tense uses an irregular stem: mantendré, mantendrás, mantendrá.
Conditional
yo: mantendría
The conditional uses the same irregular stem as the future: mantendría, mantendrías, mantendría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: mantenga
The present subjunctive is based on the 'mantengo' stem: mantenga, mantengas, mantenga.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: mantuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'uv' stem from the preterite: mantuviera, mantuvieras, mantuviera.
Negative Imperative
yo: no mantengas
The negative imperative always uses present subjunctive forms: no mantengas, no mantenga.