retener Negative Imperative Conjugation
retener — to keep
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no retengas, no retenga.
retener Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone NOT to keep or hold something, like 'Don't hold the elevator' or 'Don't keep the change.'
Notes on retener in the Negative Imperative
It uses the 'g' stem (reteng-) across all persons.
Example Sentences
No retengas el ascensor.
Don't hold the elevator.
tú
No retenga usted mi pasaporte.
Don't hold my passport.
No retengáis a los invitados.
Don't hold up the guests.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no retén'.
Correct: no retengas
Why: Negative commands never use the affirmative imperative form; they always use the subjunctive.
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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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: retuviera
The imperfect subjunctive of retener uses the irregular 'retuv-' stem: retuviera, retuvieras, retuviera.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: retén
The imperative for retener has a short 'tú' form: retén.