mantenerse Negative Imperative Conjugation
mantenerse — to remain
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive: no te mantengas, no se mantenga.
mantenerse Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to remain in a certain state or position.
Notes on mantenerse in the Negative Imperative
Since it uses the subjunctive, it relies on the 'manteng-' stem for all persons.
Example Sentences
No te mantengas al margen de esto.
Don't stay on the sidelines of this.
tú
No se mantenga de pie, tome asiento.
Don't remain standing, have a seat.
No nos mantengamos callados ante la injusticia.
Let's not stay silent in the face of injustice.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: no te mantente
Correct: no te mantengas
Why: You cannot use the affirmative command form for a negative command; you must switch to the subjunctive.
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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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: me mantuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the irregular 'mantuv-' stem: me mantuviera, te mantuvieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: mantente
The imperative uses 'mantente' for tú and 'manténgase' for formal requests.