Sostener Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb sostener means to hold, to sustain, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Sostener means to hold or to sustain, and it covers holding a baby, holding a ladder steady, sustaining an argument and holding a note in music. It follows the pattern of tener, with the present sostengo, the preterite sostuve and the future sostendré. Like every Spanish verb, sostener 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 sostengo al bebé con cuidado, and in the preterite you say sostuve una opinión con argumentos. 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: sostener
  • English: to hold, to sustain
  • Verb type: irregular verb, stem-changing (e → ie)
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: sosteniendo
  • Past participle: sostenido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + sostenido)
  • 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 sostener, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Sostener follows tener: the present is sostengo, the preterite is sostuve, and the future is sostendré.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for sostener. 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 sostengo
tú sostienes
él/ella/Ud. sostiene
nosotros/as sostenemos
vosotros/as sostenéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostienen

Preterite

Person Form
yo sostuve
tú sostuviste
él/ella/Ud. sostuvo
nosotros/as sostuvimos
vosotros/as sostuvisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostuvieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo sostenía
tú sostenías
él/ella/Ud. sostenía
nosotros/as sosteníamos
vosotros/as sosteníais
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostenían

Future

Person Form
yo sostendré
tú sostendrás
él/ella/Ud. sostendrá
nosotros/as sostendremos
vosotros/as sostendréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostendrán

Conditional

Person Form
yo sostendría
tú sostendrías
él/ella/Ud. sostendría
nosotros/as sostendríamos
vosotros/as sostendríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostendrían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo sostenga
tú sostengas
él/ella/Ud. sostenga
nosotros/as sostengamos
vosotros/as sostengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostengan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo sostuviera
tú sostuvieras
él/ella/Ud. sostuviera
nosotros/as sostuviéramos
vosotros/as sostuvierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostuvieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú sostén
él/ella/Ud. sostenga
nosotros/as sostengamos
vosotros/as sostened
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostengan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú sostengas
él/ella/Ud. sostenga
nosotros/as sostengamos
vosotros/as sostengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. sostengan

Gerund and past participle

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

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 sostener, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Sostengo al bebé con cuidado. 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 sostener, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, sostuve la escalera mientras sube. 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 sostener, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, sostenía una opinión con argumentos. 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 sostener, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, sostendré el peso con las dos manos. 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 sostener, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Sostendría al bebé con cuidado 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 sostener, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he sostenido la escalera mientras sube. 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 sostener, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había sostenido una opinión con argumentos 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 sostener, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré sostenido el peso con las dos manos. 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 sostener, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría sostenido al bebé con cuidado 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 sostener, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él sostenga la escalera mientras sube. 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 sostener, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él sostuviera una opinión con argumentos, 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 sostener, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Sostén el peso con las dos manos! 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 sostener, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No sostengas al bebé con cuidado. 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 sostener, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Sostengo al bebé con cuidado. — I hold the baby carefully.
  2. Sostiene la escalera mientras sube. — He/she holds the ladder while he climbs.
  3. Ayer, sostuve una opinión con argumentos. — Yesterday, I held an opinion with arguments.
  4. Antes, nosotros sosteníamos el peso con las dos manos. — Before, we used to hold the weight with both hands.
  5. Mañana, tú sostendrás al bebé con cuidado. — Tomorrow, you will hold the baby carefully.
  6. Yo sostendría la escalera mientras sube si tuviera más tiempo. — I would hold the ladder while he climbs if I had more time.
  7. Él ha sostenido una opinión con argumentos. — He has held an opinion with arguments.
  8. Espero que él sostenga el peso con las dos manos. — I hope he holds the weight with both hands.
  9. Yo ya había sostenido al bebé con cuidado antes de salir. — I had already held the baby carefully before leaving.
  10. Ellos sostenían la escalera mientras sube cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to hold the ladder while he climbs when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo sostiene al bebé con cuidado. — Right: Yo sostengo al bebé con cuidado. — The person matters: sostiene is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is sostengo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo sosteno la escalera mientras sube. — Right: Yo sostengo la escalera mientras sube. — Sostener 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 sostener and aguantar as identical in every context. — Right: Sostener means to hold, to sustain, while aguantar means to hold up, to endure. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: sostener fits sentences such as Sostengo al bebé con cuidado, while aguantar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy sostenido la escalera mientras sube. — Right: Yo he sostenido la escalera mientras sube. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he sostenido, has sostenido, ha sostenido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo sostuve una opinión con argumentos todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo sostenía una opinión con argumentos todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (sostenía), not the preterite. The preterite (sostuve) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al bebé con cuidado. (present tense) A. sostengo B. sostienes C. sostiene D. sostenemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ la escalera mientras sube. (preterite) A. sostuve B. sostuviste C. sostuvieron D. sostuvo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una opinión con argumentos. (imperfect) A. sostenías B. sostenían C. sosteníamos D. sostenía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el peso con las dos manos. (future) A. sostendremos B. sostendrás C. sostendré D. sostendrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al bebé con cuidado si pudiera. (conditional) A. sostendría B. sostendrías C. sostendrían D. sostengo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la escalera mientras sube. (present subjunctive) A. sostengas B. sostengamos C. sostengo D. sostenga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una opinión con argumentos, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. sostuviéramos B. sostengo C. sostuviera D. sostuvieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el peso con las dos manos. (present perfect) A. han sostenido B. hemos sostenido C. he sostenido D. has sostenido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ al bebé con cuidado! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. sostén B. sostenga C. sostengamos D. sostened

  10. Which is the gerund of sostener, used with estar for the progressive? A. sostenido B. sostengo C. sostuve D. sosteniendo

Answer key

  1. sostengo — The first-person present of sostener is sostengo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. sostuvo — The third-person preterite of sostener is sostuvo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. sosteníamos — The nosotros imperfect of sostener is sosteníamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. sostendrás — The second-person future of sostener is sostendrás.
  5. sostendría — The first-person conditional of sostener is sostendría, the form for what would happen.
  6. sostenga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of sostener is sostenga.
  7. sostuviera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of sostener is sostuviera.
  8. hemos sostenido — The nosotros present perfect of sostener is hemos sostenido: hemos + sostenido.
  9. sostén — The affirmative tú imperative of sostener is sostén.
  10. sosteniendo — The gerund of sostener is sosteniendo: estoy sosteniendo. The participle sostenido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does sostener mean in English?

Sostener means to hold, to sustain. It is used in everyday situations such as Sostengo al bebé con cuidado. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is sostener regular or irregular?

Sostener 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 sostener and aguantar?

Sostener means to hold, to sustain, while aguantar means to hold up, to endure. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use sostener when you mean to hold, to sustain, as in Sostengo al bebé con cuidado, and use aguantar for to hold up, to endure. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I hold” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo sostuve la escalera mientras sube. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo sostenía una opinión con argumentos. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he sostenido la escalera mientras sube.

How do I practise sostener?

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

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