mantenerme
/man-teh-NEHR-meh/
to support myself
When mantenerme means 'to support myself', it can refer to practical activities, like fixing something around the house.
mantenerme(verb)
to support myself
?financially or practically
,to sustain myself
?physically or mentally
to provide for myself
?financial independence
📝 In Action
Necesito un buen salario para mantenerme en esta ciudad.
B1I need a good salary to support myself in this city.
Hago ejercicio para mantenerme fuerte.
A2I exercise to keep myself strong.
Mi meta es mantenerme independiente.
B2My goal is to keep myself independent.
💡 Grammar Points
The Attached 'Me'
The 'me' attached to the end means the action of 'keeping' or 'maintaining' is directed back at the speaker ('I'). You only use this form (the infinitive + me) after another verb, or as a goal.
Irregularity Alert
The base verb 'mantener' is irregular, following the pattern of 'tener' (to have). Remember the 'yo' form is 'me mantengo' (I keep myself), not 'me manteno'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive
Mistake: "Quiero mantener en forma. (I want to keep in shape.)"
Correction: Quiero mantenerme en forma. (The action of keeping is applied to 'me,' myself.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use After Modal Verbs
This infinitive form is often used after verbs like 'poder' (can), 'deber' (must/should), or 'querer' (want). Example: 'Debo mantenerme callado' (I must keep quiet).
Use mantenerme when you mean 'to stay' or 'to remain in a condition', such as staying perfectly balanced.
mantenerme(verb)
to stay
?to remain in a state or condition
,to keep myself
?in a state (e.g., calm, focused)
to hold my position
?physical posture
📝 In Action
En una crisis, es vital mantenerme calmado.
B1In a crisis, it is vital to keep myself calm.
Tuve que esforzarme para mantenerme despierto.
A2I had to make an effort to stay awake.
Necesito mantenerme enfocado en el estudio.
A2I need to keep myself focused on studying.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
When 'mantenerme' is followed by an adjective (like 'calmado' or 'concentrado'), that adjective must agree in gender with the speaker. If the speaker is female, use 'mantenerme calmada'.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Quick Way to Say 'Stay'
When you want to express the idea of 'staying' in a specific condition (healthy, happy, quiet), 'mantenerme' is often a more active choice than 'quedarme'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mantenerme
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'mantenerme' in the sense of financial support?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'me' attached to the end of the verb?
The 'me' is attached because 'mantenerme' is an infinitive (the base form of the verb). In Spanish, when you use an infinitive, a gerund, or an affirmative command, the reflexive pronoun ('me', 'te', 'se', etc.) gets attached directly to the end of the verb.
Is 'mantenerme' the same as 'me mantener'?
No. 'Me mantener' is grammatically incorrect. When 'mantener' is used as an infinitive, the reflexive pronoun 'me' must attach to the end ('mantenerme'). When it is conjugated (like in the present tense), the 'me' separates and goes before the verb: 'Yo me mantengo'.