mantener Present Conjugation
mantener — to keep
Mantener has a 'go' in the yo form and an e-to-ie stem change for others: mantengo, mantienes, mantiene.
mantener Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present to talk about current habits, ongoing maintenance, or general truths like keeping a healthy lifestyle.
Notes on mantener in the Present
It's a 'yo-go' verb (mantengo) and a stem-changer (e > ie), except for the nosotros and vosotros forms.
Example Sentences
Mantengo mi coche en buen estado.
I keep my car in good condition.
yo
Él mantiene a su familia con este trabajo.
He supports his family with this job.
él/ella/usted
¿Mantienes el contacto con tus amigos?
Do you keep in touch with your friends?
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: mantenio
Correct: mantengo
Why: The first person singular is irregular and ends in -go, not -o.
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Related Tenses
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.
Negative Imperative
yo: no mantengas
The negative imperative always uses present subjunctive forms: no mantengas, no mantenga.