Retener Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb retener means to retain, to hold back, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Retener means to retain or to hold back, and it is used for retaining information, holding back tears and keeping someone in a place. It follows the pattern of tener, with the present retengo, the preterite retuve and the future retendré. Like every Spanish verb, retener changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say retengo la información del libro, and in the preterite you say retuve a los alumnos después de clase. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: retener
  • English: to retain, to hold back
  • Verb type: irregular verb, stem-changing (e → ie)
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: reteniendo
  • Past participle: retenido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + retenido)
  • Stem change: e → ie in the present, present subjunctive and imperative; nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for retener, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Retener follows tener: the present is retengo, the preterite is retuve, and the future is retendré.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for retener. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.

Present indicative

Person Form
yo retengo
tú retienes
él/ella/Ud. retiene
nosotros/as retenemos
vosotros/as retenéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retienen

Preterite

Person Form
yo retuve
tú retuviste
él/ella/Ud. retuvo
nosotros/as retuvimos
vosotros/as retuvisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retuvieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo retenía
tú retenías
él/ella/Ud. retenía
nosotros/as reteníamos
vosotros/as reteníais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retenían

Future

Person Form
yo retendré
tú retendrás
él/ella/Ud. retendrá
nosotros/as retendremos
vosotros/as retendréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retendrán

Conditional

Person Form
yo retendría
tú retendrías
él/ella/Ud. retendría
nosotros/as retendríamos
vosotros/as retendríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retendrían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he retenido
tú has retenido
él/ella/Ud. ha retenido
nosotros/as hemos retenido
vosotros/as habéis retenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. han retenido

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había retenido
tú habías retenido
él/ella/Ud. había retenido
nosotros/as habíamos retenido
vosotros/as habíais retenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían retenido

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré retenido
tú habrás retenido
él/ella/Ud. habrá retenido
nosotros/as habremos retenido
vosotros/as habréis retenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán retenido

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría retenido
tú habrías retenido
él/ella/Ud. habría retenido
nosotros/as habríamos retenido
vosotros/as habríais retenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían retenido

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo retenga
tú retengas
él/ella/Ud. retenga
nosotros/as retengamos
vosotros/as retengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retengan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo retuviera
tú retuvieras
él/ella/Ud. retuviera
nosotros/as retuviéramos
vosotros/as retuvierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. retuvieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú retén
él/ella/Ud. retenga
nosotros/as retengamos
vosotros/as retened
ellos/ellas/Uds. retengan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú retengas
él/ella/Ud. retenga
nosotros/as retengamos
vosotros/as retengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. retengan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund reteniendo with estar for the progressive: estoy reteniendo
Past participle retenido with haber for the perfect tenses: he retenido

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Retengo la información del libro. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Preterite

Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, retuve las lágrimas en la reunión. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect

Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For retener, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, retenía a los alumnos después de clase. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future

Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, retendré el dinero del depósito. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional

Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Retendría la información del libro si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present perfect

Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For retener, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he retenido las lágrimas en la reunión. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Pluperfect

Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For retener, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había retenido a los alumnos después de clase antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future perfect

Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For retener, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré retenido el dinero del depósito. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional perfect

Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For retener, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría retenido la información del libro con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él retenga las lágrimas en la reunión. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él retuviera a los alumnos después de clase, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Retén el dinero del depósito! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For retener, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No retengas la información del libro. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with retener, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Retengo la información del libro. — I retain the information in the book.
  2. Retiene las lágrimas en la reunión. — He/she retains my tears in the meeting.
  3. Ayer, retuve a los alumnos después de clase. — Yesterday, I retained the pupils after class.
  4. Antes, nosotros reteníamos el dinero del depósito. — Before, we used to retain the deposit money.
  5. Mañana, tú retendrás la información del libro. — Tomorrow, you will retain the information in the book.
  6. Yo retendría las lágrimas en la reunión si tuviera más tiempo. — I would retain my tears in the meeting if I had more time.
  7. Él ha retenido a los alumnos después de clase. — He has retained the pupils after class.
  8. Espero que él retenga el dinero del depósito. — I hope he retains the deposit money.
  9. Yo ya había retenido la información del libro antes de salir. — I had already retained the information in the book before leaving.
  10. Ellos retenían las lágrimas en la reunión cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to retain my tears in the meeting when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo retiene la información del libro. — Right: Yo retengo la información del libro. — The person matters: retiene is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is retengo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo reteno las lágrimas en la reunión. — Right: Yo retengo las lágrimas en la reunión. — Retener is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so the stem changes in the present singular and third-person plural. The nosotros form keeps the original stem.
  3. Wrong: Treating retener and guardar as identical in every context. — Right: Retener means to retain, to hold back, while guardar means to keep. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: retener fits sentences such as Retengo la información del libro, while guardar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy retenido las lágrimas en la reunión. — Right: Yo he retenido las lágrimas en la reunión. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he retenido, has retenido, ha retenido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo retuve a los alumnos después de clase todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo retenía a los alumnos después de clase todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (retenía), not the preterite. The preterite (retuve) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on retener. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la información del libro. (present tense) A. retengo B. retienes C. retiene D. retenemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ las lágrimas en la reunión. (preterite) A. retuve B. retuviste C. retuvieron D. retuvo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a los alumnos después de clase. (imperfect) A. retenías B. retenían C. reteníamos D. retenía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el dinero del depósito. (future) A. retendremos B. retendrás C. retendré D. retendrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la información del libro si pudiera. (conditional) A. retendría B. retendrías C. retendrían D. retengo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ las lágrimas en la reunión. (present subjunctive) A. retengas B. retengamos C. retengo D. retenga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a los alumnos después de clase, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. retuviéramos B. retengo C. retuviera D. retuvieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el dinero del depósito. (present perfect) A. han retenido B. hemos retenido C. he retenido D. has retenido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ la información del libro! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. retén B. retenga C. retengamos D. retened

  10. Which is the gerund of retener, used with estar for the progressive? A. retenido B. retengo C. retuve D. reteniendo

Answer key

  1. retengo — The first-person present of retener is retengo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. retuvo — The third-person preterite of retener is retuvo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. reteníamos — The nosotros imperfect of retener is reteníamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. retendrás — The second-person future of retener is retendrás.
  5. retendría — The first-person conditional of retener is retendría, the form for what would happen.
  6. retenga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of retener is retenga.
  7. retuviera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of retener is retuviera.
  8. hemos retenido — The nosotros present perfect of retener is hemos retenido: hemos + retenido.
  9. retén — The affirmative tú imperative of retener is retén.
  10. reteniendo — The gerund of retener is reteniendo: estoy reteniendo. The participle retenido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does retener mean in English?

Retener means to retain, to hold back. It is used in everyday situations such as Retengo la información del libro. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is retener regular or irregular?

Retener is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so it is not fully regular: the stem changes in the present, the present subjunctive and the imperative, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. The preterite and the imperfect are regular. Check the tables above for the exact forms in each tense.

What is the difference between retener and guardar?

Retener means to retain, to hold back, while guardar means to keep. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use retener when you mean to retain, to hold back, as in Retengo la información del libro, and use guardar for to keep. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I retain” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo retuve las lágrimas en la reunión. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo retenía a los alumnos después de clase. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he retenido las lágrimas en la reunión.

How do I practise retener?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the retener examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

Related links