mantenerte
/man-teh-NEHR-teh/
to keep yourself
Mantenerte: To keep yourself (in a certain state or condition).
mantenerte(Verb)
to keep yourself
?in a certain state or condition
,to stay
?to remain (e.g., calm, focused)
to hold yourself
?figurative or physical posture
📝 In Action
Tienes que aprender a mantenerte tranquilo en situaciones difíciles.
B1You have to learn to keep yourself calm in difficult situations.
¿Cómo logras mantenerte tan concentrado todo el tiempo?
A2How do you manage to stay so focused all the time?
Es difícil mantenerte al día con todas las noticias.
B2It's hard to keep yourself up to date with all the news.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'te' at the End
When you see a pronoun like 'te' attached to a verb, it usually means the action is happening to 'you.' Here, 'mantenerte' is the same as 'to keep you' or 'to keep yourself.'
When to Attach Pronouns
You can only attach pronouns (like 'te') to three verb forms: the infinitive (mantenerte), the gerund (manteniéndote), and the affirmative command (mantente).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Manteniendote (missing accent)"
Correction: Manteniéndote. When you add pronouns to the gerund, you almost always need an accent mark to keep the original stress pattern.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal 'You'
The 'te' means you are speaking to someone informally (tú). If you were speaking formally (usted), you would use 'mantenerse' (or 'mantenerlo/la' in some contexts).
Mantenerte: To support yourself (financially, earning a living).
mantenerte(Verb)
to support yourself
?financially, earning a living
to sustain yourself
?providing necessary resources
📝 In Action
Necesitas un buen trabajo para mantenerte en esta ciudad tan cara.
B1You need a good job to support yourself in this expensive city.
Después de la universidad, su primer objetivo fue mantenerte sin ayuda.
B2After university, your first goal was to support yourself without help.
💡 Grammar Points
Self-Sustaining Action
In this context, the 'te' is essential because the action (maintaining) is directed back at the person doing it (you).
⭐ Usage Tips
Implied Money
When used with no object, 'mantenerte' usually implies supporting yourself financially, though context is always key.
Mantenerte: To stay in shape (physical fitness).
mantenerte(Verb)
to stay in shape
?physical fitness
to maintain your health
?general well-being
📝 In Action
Hago ejercicio todos los días para mantenerte en forma.
A2I exercise every day to keep you in shape. (Note: This is often used in advice, like 'I do this so you can learn to do it')
Para mantenerte saludable, debes comer muchas verduras.
A2To keep yourself healthy, you should eat lots of vegetables.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Use
When you use 'mantener' to talk about your own body or health, it almost always requires the 'te' (or 'se' if formal) because you are the one receiving the benefit of the action.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: mantenerte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'mantenerte' in the context of physical health?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'mantener' and 'mantenerte'?
'Mantener' is the base verb meaning 'to maintain' or 'to keep' something else (e.g., 'Mantengo la casa limpia' / I keep the house clean). 'Mantenerte' adds the 'te,' meaning the action is focused on 'you' (e.g., 'Tienes que mantenerte limpio' / You have to keep yourself clean).
Why is 'mantener' considered irregular?
It is irregular because it follows the pattern of the verb 'tener' (to have). In the present tense, it changes its vowel (e→ie: mantienes) and has an irregular 'yo' form (mantengo). It also has an unpredictable stem in the future and preterite tenses (mantendr- and mantuv-).