retener Preterite Conjugation
retener — to keep
The preterite of retener is highly irregular, using the 'uv' stem: retuve, retuviste, retuvo.
retener Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use this for completed actions in the past, such as when the police detained someone or when you successfully memorized something once.
Notes on retener in the Preterite
This verb is a 'U-stem' irregular. It does not have accents on the 'yo' (retuve) or 'él' (retuvo) forms.
Example Sentences
La policía retuvo al sospechoso.
The police detained the suspect.
él/ella/usted
Retuve el aliento por un minuto.
I held my breath for a minute.
yo
¿Retuvisteis los documentos originales?
Did you all keep the original documents?
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'retení' or 'retenió'.
Correct: retuve / retuvo
Why: Retener is irregular and follows the same pattern as 'tener'.
Mistake: Adding an accent to 'retuvó'.
Correct: retuvo
Why: Irregular preterite stems like 'retuv-' do not take accents on the endings.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'retener' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: retengo
In the present, retener changes 'e' to 'ie' in most forms and has a 'yo' form ending in -go.
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.
Negative Imperative
yo: no retengas
The negative imperative always uses the present subjunctive forms: no retengas, no retenga.