A close-up view of a hand tightly gripping the string of a vibrant red balloon, preventing it from floating away.

mantén

man-TEN

Verb (Command Form)B1irregular er

keep?to continue to have or hold,maintain?to keep in good condition or state

Also:hold?physical or metaphorical grip,preserve?to save or protect

Quick Reference

infinitivemantener

gerundmanteniendo

past Participlemantenido

📝 In Action

Mantén la puerta cerrada, por favor.

Keep the door closed, please.

Si quieres un buen trabajo, mantén tus habilidades al día.

If you want a good job, maintain your skills up to date.

¡Mantén la calma! Solo es una pequeña araña.

Keep calm! It's only a small spider.

Word Connections

Synonyms

conserva (preserve/save (command))
guarda (keep/save (command))

Antonyms

suelta (let go (command))
abandona (abandon (command))

Common Collocations

Mantén el equilibrio – Keep your balance
Mantén la distancia – Keep the distance

💡 Grammar Points

The Informal Command

'Mantén' is the affirmative (positive) command you use when speaking informally to one person (the 'tú' form). It tells them what to DO.

A Special Irregularity

Most 'tú' commands are the same as the 'él/ella' present tense form (e.g., habla). However, 'mantén' is irregular because its base verb, 'mantener,' follows the pattern of the highly irregular verb 'tener' (to have).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Indicative Form

Mistake: "Tú mantienes la calma."

Correction: ¡Mantén la calma! 'Mantienes' means 'You keep' (statement), while 'Mantén' means 'Keep!' (order).

⭐ Usage Tips

Using Pronouns

When you attach pronouns (like 'lo' or 'la') to an affirmative command, you attach them right after the verb: Manténlo (Keep it).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: mantén

Question 1 of 1

Which of these situations requires the command form 'mantén'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

mantener(to maintain, to keep) - verb

mantenimiento(maintenance) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'mantén' irregular if the base verb is -er?

'Mantener' is a compound verb built on 'tener' (to have/hold). Because 'tener' has the irregular command 'ten', 'mantener' follows that pattern, resulting in the irregular 'mantén' instead of the expected 'mantiene'.

What is the difference between 'mantén' and 'mantiene'?

'Mantén' is a command: 'Keep!' (used with 'tú'). 'Mantiene' is a statement: 'He/She/It keeps' or 'You (usted) keep.' They are used for different purposes, even though they look similar.