mantener Present Subjunctive Conjugation
mantener — to keep
The present subjunctive is based on the 'mantengo' stem: mantenga, mantengas, mantenga.
mantener Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when expressing wishes, doubts, or requests about someone keeping or maintaining something.
Notes on mantener in the Present Subjunctive
Since the 'yo' form of the present indicative is 'mantengo', the subjunctive uses 'manteng-' as its base.
Example Sentences
Espero que mantengas tu palabra.
I hope you keep your word.
tú
Es importante que mantengamos el orden.
It is important that we maintain order.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: mantengaís
Correct: mantengáis
Why: The accent in the vosotros form goes on the 'a' of the ending.
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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.
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.