A small child stands focused and perfectly still, carefully balancing a large, bright blue sphere on the palm of their outstretched hand, illustrating stability and maintenance.

mantengan

man-TEN-gan

verbB1irregular er

keep?maintain a state or condition,maintain?uphold standards or systems

Also:hold?to keep something physically,support?financially or emotionally

Quick Reference

infinitivemantener

gerundmanteniendo

past Participlemantenido

📝 In Action

Es crucial que ustedes mantengan la calma durante la emergencia.

It is crucial that you all keep calm during the emergency.

¡Mantengan una distancia segura de las vías!

Maintain a safe distance from the tracks!

Ojalá que los precios se mantengan estables este año.

Hopefully, prices will remain stable this year.

Les pedimos que mantengan las puertas cerradas en todo momento.

We ask you (plural) to keep the doors closed at all times.

Word Connections

Synonyms

conservar (to preserve)
sostener (to hold up/support)

Antonyms

soltar (to let go)
perder (to lose)

Common Collocations

mantengan la distancia – keep the distance
mantengan el contacto – keep in touch

Idioms & Expressions

mantenerse en sus trece – to stick to one's guns (be stubborn)

💡 Grammar Points

Formal Command (Ustedes)

When you are giving a formal command to a group of people ('you all'), use 'mantengan'. For example, '¡Mantengan el orden!' (Keep order!)

Expressing Wishes/Doubt

When you want to express hope, doubt, or necessity about what others are doing, use 'mantengan'. This is the special verb form needed after words like 'espero que' (I hope that) or 'es necesario que' (it is necessary that).

Irregularity Alert

The verb 'mantener' follows the same tricky pattern as 'tener' (to have). Notice the 'g' in 'mantenga/mantengan' and the 'uv' in the past tenses (like 'mantuvo').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the wrong mood for wishes

Mistake: "Espero que mantienen la promesa."

Correction: Espero que mantengan la promesa. (When expressing a wish or hope, Spanish requires the special verb form, not the normal present tense.)

⭐ Usage Tips

The 'Keep' Rule

In many cases where English uses 'keep' (keep quiet, keep the door shut, keep calm), Spanish uses a form of 'mantener'.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedmantiene

yomantengo

túmantienes

ellos/ellas/ustedesmantienen

nosotrosmantenemos

vosotrosmantenéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmantenía

yomantenía

túmantenías

ellos/ellas/ustedesmantenían

nosotrosmanteníamos

vosotrosmantenías

preterite

él/ella/ustedmantuvo

yomantuviste

túmantuviste

ellos/ellas/ustedesmantuvieron

nosotrosmantuvimos

vosotrosmantuvisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedmantenga

yomantenga

túmantengas

ellos/ellas/ustedesmantengan

nosotrosmantengamos

vosotrosmantengáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedmantuviera

yomantuviera

túmantuvieras

ellos/ellas/ustedesmantuvieran

nosotrosmantuviéramos

vosotrosmantuvierais

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mantengan

Question 1 of 2

Which English structure is most similar to the use of 'mantengan' in the sentence 'Es importante que mantengan la calma'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

mantener(to maintain, to keep) - verb

mantenimiento(maintenance) - noun

mantenedor(maintainer, supporter) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'mantener' change so much? It seems very irregular!

'Mantener' is irregular because it copies the pattern of the highly common verb 'tener' (to have). Since 'tener' changes its stem in many tenses (like 'tengo' or 'tuve'), 'mantener' does the same (like 'mantengo' or 'mantuve'). Just remember the 'tener' pattern, and you'll know 'mantener'!

When do I use 'mantengan' versus 'mantienen'?

Use 'mantienen' (the normal present tense) when you are stating a fact: 'Ellos mantienen una casa grande' (They maintain a big house). Use 'mantengan' (the special form) when you are expressing a wish, a command, or something uncertain: 'Quiero que mantengan la casa limpia' (I want them to keep the house clean).