mantener Negative Imperative Conjugation
mantener — to keep
The negative imperative always uses present subjunctive forms: no mantengas, no mantenga.
mantener Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone NOT to keep or maintain something.
Notes on mantener in the Negative Imperative
All forms follow the 'manteng-' stem from the present subjunctive.
Example Sentences
No mantengas la luz encendida.
Don't keep the light on.
tú
No mantengamos contacto con ellos.
Let's not keep in contact with them.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: no mantén
Correct: no mantengas
Why: The short 'tú' form is only for affirmative commands; negative commands must use the subjunctive.
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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.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: mantén
The imperative has a short 'tú' form: mantén, and uses subjunctive forms for others.