mantener Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
mantener — to keep
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'uv' stem from the preterite: mantuviera, mantuvieras, mantuviera.
mantener Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical 'if' situations (e.g., 'If I kept...') or past-tense requests.
Notes on mantener in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is always derived from the third-person plural of the preterite (mantuvieron), resulting in the 'mantuvier-' stem.
Example Sentences
Si yo mantuviera mi dieta, estaría más sano.
If I maintained my diet, I would be healthier.
yo
Me pidió que mantuviera el silencio.
He asked me to keep silent.
yo
Common Mistakes
Mistake: manteniera
Correct: mantuviera
Why: You must use the preterite stem 'mantuv-', not the infinitive stem.
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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.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: mantén
The imperative has a short 'tú' form: mantén, and uses subjunctive forms for others.
Negative Imperative
yo: no mantengas
The negative imperative always uses present subjunctive forms: no mantengas, no mantenga.