retener Present Subjunctive Conjugation
retener — to keep
The present subjunctive of retener uses the stem 'reteng-' and is used for doubts or requests about keeping something.
retener Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when you want someone else to keep information, or when expressing doubt about whether a memory or liquid is being held.
Notes on retener in the Present Subjunctive
This tense follows the 'yo' form of the present indicative (retengo), resulting in a 'g' in all forms: retenga, retengas, etc.
Example Sentences
Espero que retengas esta información.
I hope you retain this information.
tú
Dudo que el banco retenga mi dinero mucho tiempo.
I doubt the bank will hold my money for long.
él/ella/usted
No quiero que retengamos el pedido.
I don't want us to hold up the order.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'retena' instead of 'retenga'.
Correct: retenga
Why: Verbs ending in -go in the first person present indicative (like tener/retener) keep that 'g' in 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.
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.
Negative Imperative
yo: no retengas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no retengas, no retenga.