Learning how to conjugate contener in Spanish is an essential skill for any Spanish language learner. The verb “contener” translates to “to contain” or “to hold” in English, and is used in a variety of contexts. Mastering its conjugation can significantly enhance ones ability to communicate complex ideas and facilitate more nuanced conversations. Whether you’re talking about containing emotions or containing items within a box, understanding the conjugation of contener is key.
The conjugation of “contener” follows a pattern common to verbs ending in -ener, but it also has its own peculiarities due to the stem change it undergoes. This might seem daunting at first, but with practice, conjugating contener becomes second nature. Knowing how to correctly form past, present, future, and subjunctive tenses of “contener” greatly improves your verbal and written Spanish.
This guide will serve as a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to master how to conjugate contener in Spanish. From beginners to advanced learners, the nuances of this verbs conjugation are broken down in a straightforward manner, ensuring a thorough understanding. Stepping through its various tenses and moods, this article aims to equip you with the knowledge to use “contener” confidently in your Spanish communications.
Contener Conjugation Chart in Spanish
Below is a conjugation table for the Spanish verb “contener”:
| Personal Pronoun | Presente | Pretérito | Imperfecto | Futuro | Condicional | Presente Subjuntivo | Imperfecto Subjuntivo | Imperativo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | contengo | contuve | contenía | contendré | contendría | contenga | contuviera | contiene (informal use not standard) |
| Tú | contienes | contuviste | contenías | contenderás | contenderías | contengas | contuvieras | contiene |
| Él/Ella/Usted | contiene | contuvo | contenía | contendrá | contendría | contenga | contuviera | contenga |
| Nosotros | contenemos | contuvimos | conteníamos | contendremos | contenderíamos | contengamos | contuviéramos | contengamos |
| Vosotros | contenéis | contuvisteis | conteníais | contenderéis | contenderíais | contengáis | contuvierais | contened |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | contienen | contuvieron | contenían | contenderán | contenderían | contengan | contuvieran | contengan |
Please note that although I provided a form for “Imperativo” for “Yo”, the imperative mood technically does not have a first-person singular form because it’s used for giving commands to others. The form “contiene” is provided for informal reference, aligning with the pattern used in the example.
Contener Conjugation Present Tense – Presente
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contengo | Yo contengo la respuesta. | I contain the answer. |
| tú | contienes | ¿Tú contienes la llave? | Do you contain the key? |
| él/ella | contiene | Ella contiene su emoción. | She contains her emotion. |
| nosotros | contenemos | Nosotros contenemos la situación. | We contain the situation. |
| vosotros | contenéis | Vosotros contenéis el secreto. | You all contain the secret. |
| ellos | contienen | Ellos contienen la risa. | They contain the laughter. |
Contener Conjugation Present Perfect Tense – Pretérito Perfecto Conjugation Chart
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | he contenido | Yo he contenido mi enojo. | I have contained my anger. |
| tú | has contenido | Tú has contenido tu risa. | You have contained your laughter. |
| él/ella | ha contenido | Ella ha contenido las lágrimas. | She has contained the tears. |
| nosotros | hemos contenido | Nosotros hemos contenido la información. | We have contained the information. |
| vosotros | habéis contenido | Vosotros habéis contenido vuestra curiosidad. | You have contained your curiosity. |
| ellos | han contenido | Ellos han contenido el secreto. | They have contained the secret. |
Contener Conjugation Simple Paste Tense – Pretérito Indefinido
Here’s Contener conjugation preterite indefinido:
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contuve | Yo contuve las lágrimas. | I held back the tears. |
| tú | contuviste | Tú contuviste tu ira. | You held back your anger. |
| él/ella | contuvo | Él contuvo la respiración. | He held his breath. |
| nosotros | contuvimos | Nosotros contuvimos la risa. | We held back the laughter. |
| vosotros | contuvisteis | Vosotros contuvisteis el secreto. | You held the secret. |
| ellos | contuvieron | Ellos contuvieron el avance del enemigo. | They held back the enemy’s advance. |
Contener Imperfect Conjugation – Pretérito Imperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| tú (affirmative) | contiene | Contiene tus emociones. | Contain your emotions. |
| tú (negative) | no contengas | No contengas la risa. | Do not contain the laughter. |
| usted (affirmative) | contenga | Contenga la respiración. | Hold your breath. |
| usted (negative) | no contenga | No contenga sus palabras. | Do not hold back your words. |
| vosotros/as (affirmative) | contenid | Contenid vuestra curiosidad. | Contain your curiosity. |
| vosotros/as (negative) | no contengáis | No contengáis vuestras preguntas. | Do not hold back your questions. |
| ustedes (affirmative) | contengan | Contengan sus impresiones. | Contain your impressions. |
| ustedes (negative) | no contengan | No contengan sus aplausos. | Do not hold your applause. |
Contener Conjugation Pluperfect/Past Perfect Tense – Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | había contenido | Yo ya había contenido mi emoción. | I had already contained my emotion. |
| tú | habías contenido | Tú habías contenido tu curiosidad. | You had contained your curiosity. |
| él/ella/usted | había contenido | Él había contenido las lágrimas. | He had contained the tears. |
| nosotros/nosotras | habíamos contenido | Nosotros habíamos contenido la información. | We had contained the information. |
| vosotros/vosotras | habíais contenido | Vosotros habíais contenido vuestra risa. | You had contained your laughter. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habían contenido | Ellos habían contenido su deseo de hablar. | They had contained their desire to speak. |
Contener Conjugation Simple Future Tense – Futuro Simple
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contendré | Yo contendré mi enojo la próxima vez. | I will contain my anger next time. |
| tú | contendrás | Tú contendrás tus sentimientos por ahora. | You will contain your feelings for now. |
| él/ella/usted | contendrá | Él contendrá su excitación al verla. | He will contain his excitement when he sees her. |
| nosotros/as | contendremos | Nosotros contendremos la situación. | We will contain the situation. |
| vosotros/as | contendréis | Vosotros contendréis la risa durante la película. | You will contain the laughter during the movie. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contendrán | Ellos contendrán los datos en un solo archivo. | They will contain the data in a single file. |
Contener Spanish Conjugation Future Perfect Tense – Futuro Perfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | habré contenido | Para mañana, yo habré contenido mi curiosidad. | By tomorrow, I will have contained my curiosity. |
| tú | habrás contenido | Para el viernes, tú habrás contenido la risa. | By Friday, you will have contained the laughter. |
| él/ella/usted | habrá contenido | Para entonces, ella habrá contenido las lágrimas. | By then, she will have contained the tears. |
| nosotros/nosotras | habremos contenido | Para el final del día, nosotros habremos contenido nuestra emoción. | By the end of the day, we will have contained our emotion. |
| vosotros/vosotras | habréis contenido | Para la próxima semana, vosotros habréis contenido vuestra ansiedad. | By next week, you all will have contained your anxiety. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habrán contenido | Para el lanzamiento, ellos habrán contenido la información. | By the launch, they will have contained the information. |
Contener Conjugation Simple Conditional Tense – Condicional Simple
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contendría | Yo contendría más paciencia. | I would have more patience. |
| tú | contendrías | ¿Tú contendrías el secreto? | Would you keep the secret? |
| él/ella | contendría | Él contendría su emoción. | He would contain his emotion. |
| nosotros/as | contendríamos | Nosotros contendríamos la risa. | We would contain the laughter. |
| vosotros/as | contendríais | Vosotros contendríais la situación. | You would handle the situation. |
| ellos/ellas | contendrían | Ellos contendrían los documentos. | They would contain the documents. |
Conjugate Contener in Spanish: Conditional Perfect Tense – Condicional Compuesto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | habría contenido | Si yo hubiera sabido, yo habría contenido mi risa. | If I had known, I would have contained my laughter. |
| tú | habrías contenido | Tú habrías contenido tu enojo si hubieras entendido la situación. | You would have contained your anger if you had understood the situation. |
| él/ella/usted | habría contenido | Él habría contenido las lágrimas al oír la noticia. | He would have contained the tears upon hearing the news. |
| nosotros/as | habríamos contenido | Nosotros habríamos contenido nuestra curiosidad de no ser por la evidencia. | We would have contained our curiosity had it not been for the evidence. |
| vosotros/as | habríais contenido | Vosotros habríais contenido vuestras quejas si hubierais conocido la verdad. | You all would have contained your complaints if you had known the truth. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | habrían contenido | Ellos habrían contenido su deseo de partir de no ser por la tormenta. | They would have contained their desire to leave had it not been for the storm. |
Contener Conjugation Imperative Tense – Imperativo
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| tú (affirmative) | contiene | Contiene tus emociones. | Contain your emotions. |
| tú (negative) | no contengas | No contengas la risa. | Do not contain the laughter. |
| usted (affirmative) | contenga | Contenga la respiración. | Hold your breath. |
| usted (negative) | no contenga | No contenga sus palabras. | Do not hold back your words. |
| vosotros/as (affirmative) | contenid | Contenid vuestra curiosidad. | Contain your curiosity. |
| vosotros/as (negative) | no contengáis | No contengáis vuestras preguntas. | Do not hold back your questions. |
| ustedes (affirmative) | contengan | Contengan sus impresiones. | Contain your impressions. |
| ustedes (negative) | no contengan | No contengan sus aplausos. | Do not hold your applause. |
Contener Subjunctive Conjugation
Contener Subjunctive Conjugation Present Tense – Subjuntivo Presente
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contenga | Espero que yo contenga mi ansiedad. | I hope that I contain my anxiety. |
| tú | contengas | Quiero que tú contengas la situación. | I want you to contain the situation. |
| él/ella/usted | contenga | Es necesario que él contenga su ira. | It’s necessary that he contains his anger. |
| nosotros/nosotras | contengamos | Esperamos que nosotros contengamos la euforia. | We hope that we contain the euphoria. |
| vosotros/vosotras | contengáis | Deseo que vosotros contengáis vuestra curiosidad un momento. | I wish you all would contain your curiosity for a moment. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contengan | Es importante que ellos contengan los gastos este mes. | It’s important that they contain the expenses this month. |
Contener Conjugation Present Perfect Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Pretérito Perfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | haya contenido | Espero que yo haya contenido mi risa. | I hope I have contained my laughter. |
| tú | hayas contenido | Espero que tú hayas contenido tu curiosidad. | I hope you have contained your curiosity. |
| él/ella/usted | haya contenido | Espero que él haya contenido las lágrimas. | I hope he has contained the tears. |
| nosotros/nosotras | hayamos contenido | Espero que nosotros hayamos contenido la información. | I hope we have contained the information. |
| vosotros/vosotras | hayáis contenido | Espero que vosotros hayáis contenido la emoción. | I hope you (plural) have contained the emotion. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hayan contenido | Espero que ellos hayan contenido el secreto. | I hope they have contained the secret. |
Contener Conjugation Imperfect Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Pretérito Imperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contuviera | Ojalá que yo contuviera mi risa. | I wish I had contained my laughter. |
| tú | contuvieras | Si tú contuvieras los documentos, estaríamos seguros. | If you had contained the documents, we would be safe. |
| él/ella/usted | contuviera | Era necesario que él contuviera su enojo. | It was necessary for him to contain his anger. |
| nosotros/as | contuviéramos | Queríamos que nosotros contuviéramos la información. | We wanted us to contain the information. |
| vosotros/as | contuvierais | Si vosotros contuvierais la emoción, nadie sospecharía. | If you guys had contained the emotion, nobody would suspect. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contuvieran | Esperaban que ellos contuvieran la situación. | They hoped that they would contain the situation. |
Contener Pluperfect Subjunctive Conjugation – Subjuntivo Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiera contenido | Si yo hubiera contenido mi ira, no estaríamos peleando. | If I had contained my anger, we wouldn’t be fighting. |
| tú | hubieras contenido | ¿Y si tú hubieras contenido tu risa en ese momento? | What if you had contained your laughter at that moment? |
| él/ella/usted | hubiera contenido | Ella nunca pensó que él hubiera contenido tantos secretos. | She never thought he had contained so many secrets. |
| nosotros/nosotras | hubiéramos contenido | Si nosotros hubiéramos contenido la fuga, el daño sería menor. | If we had contained the leak, the damage would be less. |
| vosotros/vosotras | hubierais contenido | ¿Y si vosotros hubierais contenido vuestras opiniones? | What if you all had contained your opinions? |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | hubieran contenido | Ellos nunca admitieron que hubieran contenido la información. | They never admitted they had contained the information. |
Contener Conjugation Future Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Futuro
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contuviere | Si yo contuviere más tiempo, podríamos ganar. | If I contain longer, we could win. |
| tú | contuvieres | Si tú contuvieres tu risa, nadie se ofendería. | If you contain your laughter, no one would be offended. |
| él/ella/usted | contuviere | Si él contuviere su frustración, evitaríamos problemas. | If he contains his frustration, we would avoid problems. |
| nosotros/nosotras | contuviéremos | Si nosotros contuviéremos los gastos, podríamos ahorrar más. | If we contain the expenses, we could save more. |
| vosotros/vosotras | contuviereis | Si vosotros contuviereis la información, podría ser peligroso. | If you all contain the information, it could be dangerous. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contuvieren | Si ellos contuvieren la contaminación, el medio ambiente mejoraría. | If they contain the pollution, the environment would improve. |
Practice Test For Conjugating Contener in Spanish
1. *Nosotros __ mucho el plástico. *
A) contienen
B) contenemos
C) contengo
D) contiene
-
*Yo __ la llave que abre esta puerta. *
A) contienes
B) contenéis
C) contengo
D) contienen -
*Ella __ agua para el viaje. *
A) contengo
B) contiene
C) contienen
D) contenemos -
*Vosotros __ la respuesta a la pregunta. *
A) contienen
B) contienes
C) contiene
D) contenéis -
*Tú __ todos los documentos necesarios. *
A) contiene
B) contienes
C) contienen
D) contengo -
*Ellos __ razón en su argumento. *
A) contiene
B) contienes
C) contienen
D) contengo -
*Ustedes __ las invitaciones para la fiesta. *
A) contenemos
B) contiene
C) contienen
D) contengo -
*Yo no __ suficiente espacio en mi habitación. *
A) contienes
B) contenemos
C) contenga
D) contengo -
*Tú nunca __ en ti mismo. *
A) contiene
B) contienes
C) contenéis
D) contienen -
*Ella __ muchas ganas de verte. *
A) contienen
B) contengo
C) contiene
D) contenemos -
*Nosotros __ la calma durante la tormenta. *
A) contiene
B) contienes
C) contenéis
D) contenemos -
*Usted __ un secreto muy bien guardado. *
A) contienen
B) contiene
C) contengo
D) contienes -
*Vosotros __ la capacidad de mejorar. *
A) contienen
B) contiene
C) contenéis
D) contengo -
*Él __ toda la información relevante. *
A) contienes
B) contiene
C) contenemos
D) contienen -
*Ellos no __ paciencia. *
A) contienes
B) contiene
C) contienen
D) contengo -
*Yo __ un poco de miedo a las alturas. *
A) contienes
B) contiene
C) contienen
D) contengo -
*Tú __ en tus brazos fuerza suficiente. *
A) contendes
B) contienes
C) contenga
D) contiene -
*Ustedes __ lo necesario para empezar el proyecto. *
A) contengan
B) contenga
C) contienen
D) contenemos -
*Nosotras __ la clave para resolver el misterio. *
A) contengo
B) contienes
C) contienen
D) contenemos -
*Tú y yo __ el mismo sueño. *
A) contienen
B) contengo
C) contenemos
D) contiene
Answers:
1. B) contenemos
2. C) contengo
3. B) contiene
4. D) contenéis
5. B) contienes
6. C) contienen
7. C) contienen
8. D) contengo
9. B) contienes
10. C) contiene
11. D) contenemos
12. B) contiene
13. C) contenéis
14. D) contienen
15. C) contienen
16. D) contengo
17. B) contienes
18. C) contienen
19. D) contenemos
20. C) contenemos
This definitive guide on how to conjugate contener in Spanish is designed for learners at all levels. Whether you’re a beginner eager to master the basics or an advanced learner polishing your grammar, this article is tailored to cover every angle of contener conjugation. With a meticulous approach, we’ve distilled key insights into the most searched-for aspects of conjugating ‘contener,’ ensuring that no stone is left unturned.
In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the contener conjugation present, where you’ll discover how to correctly use contener in the present tense, laying the foundation for expressing current actions and states. We then transition into the past with contener preterite and contener conjugation preterite, guiding you through the nuances of recounting completed actions. For those intricate narratives, contener preterite conjugation will sharpen your storytelling, ensuring you convey past events with accuracy.
Venturing into the subjunctive mood, our guide on contener subjunctive illuminates how to express desires, doubts, and hypotheticals with contener, adding depth to your conversations and writings. And for those looking to master every tense, our sections on contener conditional, contener imperative, and contener infinitive usage will refine your command of Spanish, enabling you to navigate future possibilities, give commands, and utilize contener in its most versatile form.
By weaving through these phrases, our article stands as a beacon for learners and educators alike, promising a well-rounded mastery of contener. So, whether you’re drafting an email, engaging in conversation, or penning a narrative, let this guide be your trusted companion in conquering the conjugation of “contener” across all its forms.
Final Words
In conclusion, the ability to conjugate “contener” in Spanish is pivotal for learners at all levels. This verb, which carries the meaning of holding or containing, serves a fundamental role in constructing meaningful and expressive sentences. Mastering its conjugation not only enrichs one’s vocabulary but also elevates the sophistication of one’s linguistic expressions.
Understanding the various conjugations of “contener” allows learners to accurately describe scenarios in diverse tenses, which is crucial for effective communication. Whether its discussing past events, explaining current situations, or predicting future occurrences, the skillful application of “contener” in its correct form can significantly impact the clarity and effectiveness of the message being conveyed.
Hence, dedicating time to thoroughly comprehend how to conjugate “contener” in Spanish paves the way for enhanced proficiency in the language. It’s an investment in ones linguistic foundation that promotes greater confidence and fluency in engaging with the Spanish-speaking world. This endeavor not only boosts understanding and usage of this particular verb but also contributes broadly to the mastery of Spanish verb conjugation.