mantenerse Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
mantenerse — to remain
The imperfect subjunctive uses the irregular 'mantuv-' stem: me mantuviera, te mantuvieras.
mantenerse Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical 'if' situations or past requests regarding someone's state (e.g., 'If I stayed calm...').
Notes on mantenerse in the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is derived from the third-person plural preterite (mantuvieron). Drop the -on and add the subjunctive endings.
Example Sentences
Si me mantuviera ocupado, no estaría triste.
If I stayed busy, I wouldn't be sad.
yo
Me pidió que nos mantuviéramos alerta.
He asked us to stay alert.
nosotros
Si se mantuvieran callados, escucharían mejor.
If they stayed quiet, they would hear better.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: si me manteniera
Correct: si me mantuviera
Why: You must use the 'uv' stem from the preterite, not the infinitive stem.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: me mantengo
The present tense of mantenerse is irregular, featuring a 'g' in the yo form and 'ie' stem changes elsewhere.
Preterite
yo: me mantuve
The preterite of mantenerse is highly irregular, using the 'uv' stem: me mantuve, te mantuviste, se mantuvo.
Imperfect
yo: me mantenía
The imperfect of mantenerse is regular: me mantenía, te mantenías, se mantenía.
Future
yo: me mantendré
The future of mantenerse uses the irregular stem 'mantendr-': me mantendré, te mantendrás.
Conditional
yo: me mantendría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'mantendr-': me mantendría, te mantendrías.
Present Subjunctive
yo: me mantenga
The present subjunctive uses the 'manteng-' stem: me mantenga, te mantengas.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: mantente
The imperative uses 'mantente' for tú and 'manténgase' for formal requests.
Negative Imperative
yo: no te mantengas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive: no te mantengas, no se mantenga.