retener Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
retener — to keep
The imperfect subjunctive of retener uses the irregular 'retuv-' stem: retuviera, retuvieras, retuviera.
retener Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use this for hypothetical situations or past requests, like 'If I kept the receipt...' or 'They asked me to hold the line.'
Notes on retener in the Imperfect Subjunctive
It derives from the preterite 'ellos' form (retuvieron). It uses the 'uv' stem found in 'tener'.
Example Sentences
Si retuvieras el calor, la casa estaría más caliente.
If you retained the heat, the house would be warmer.
tú
Me pidieron que retuviera el paquete.
They asked me to hold the package.
yo
Ojalá retuviéramos más clientes.
I wish we were retaining more customers.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'reteniera' instead of 'retuviera'.
Correct: retuviera
Why: Learners often forget that retener follows the irregular 'uv' pattern of tener.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: retengo
In the present, retener changes 'e' to 'ie' in most forms and has a 'yo' form ending in -go.
Preterite
yo: retuve
The preterite of retener is highly irregular, using the 'uv' stem: retuve, retuviste, retuvo.
Imperfect
yo: retenía
The imperfect of retener is regular: retenía, retenías, retenía, reteníamos, reteníais, retenían.
Future
yo: retendré
The future of retener uses the irregular stem 'retendr-': retendré, retendrás, etc.
Conditional
yo: retendría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'retendr-': retendría, retendrías, retendría.
Present Subjunctive
yo: retenga
The present subjunctive of retener uses the stem 'reteng-' and is used for doubts or requests about keeping something.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: retén
The imperative for retener has a short 'tú' form: retén.
Negative Imperative
yo: no retengas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no retengas, no retenga.