contener
to contain
Non-Conjugated Forms
contener
to contain
conteniendo
Present Participle
contenido
Used in perfect tenses
Indicative Mood
Used for statements of fact, certainty, and objective reality
| Person | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contengo | contuve | contenía | contendré | contendría |
| tú | contienes | contuviste | contenías | contendrás | contendrías |
| él/ella/usted | contiene | contuvo | contenía | contendrá | contendría |
| nosotros | contenemos | contuvimos | conteníamos | contendremos | contendríamos |
| vosotros | contenéis | contuvisteis | conteníais | contendréis | contendríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contienen | contuvieron | contenían | contendrán | contendrían |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Perfect Tenses
Compound tenses using auxiliary verb "haber" + past participle
| Person | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | he contenido | había contenido | habré contenido | habría contenido |
| tú | has contenido | habías contenido | habrás contenido | habrías contenido |
| él/ella/usted | ha contenido | había contenido | habrá contenido | habría contenido |
| nosotros | hemos contenido | habíamos contenido | habremos contenido | habríamos contenido |
| vosotros | habéis contenido | habíais contenido | habréis contenido | habríais contenido |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han contenido | habían contenido | habrán contenido | habrían contenido |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Subjunctive Mood
Used for doubt, emotion, desire, possibility, and hypothetical situations
The imperfect subjunctive has two forms: -ra (more common in speech) and -se (more literary, common in Spain). Both are equally correct and interchangeable.
| Person | Literary / Spain | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | contenga | contuviera | contuviese |
| tú | contengas | contuvieras | contuvieses |
| él/ella/usted | contenga | contuviera | contuviese |
| nosotros | contengamos | contuviéramos | contuviésemos |
| vosotros | contengáis | contuvierais | contuvieseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contengan | contuvieran | contuviesen |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Literary / Spain
Imperative Mood
Used for commands, requests, and instructions
| Person | |
|---|---|
| yo | - |
| tú | contene |
| él/ella/usted | contena |
| nosotros | contenamos |
| vosotros | contened |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | contenan |
| Quick Test |
🎯 Practice contener
Test your knowledge of contener conjugations across multiple tenses
Irregular Verb
This is an irregular verb, so it doesn't follow the standard conjugation patterns. You'll need to memorise the irregular forms, especially in the present indicative and preterite.
Usage Tips
- Indicative: Use for facts, statements, and objective reality
- Subjunctive: Use after expressions of doubt, emotion, desire, or uncertainty
- Imperative: Use for direct commands and requests
- Perfect Tenses: Use to express actions completed relative to another time
Examples and Common Phrases
Examples
Common Phrases
Verb Information
Category
action
Ending Type
-er verb
Verb Type
Irregular verb
Importance Rank
#48 out of 100
Usage Tips
Practice Suggestion
Try creating your own sentences with this verb. Start with simple present tense sentences and gradually work up to more complex constructions.