The Present Tense of contener is used to express actions or states that are currently happening or that occur habitually. For example, El gobierno contiene los precios de los alimentos básicos. (The government contains the prices of basic foods.)
Contener is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugations do not follow the typical patterns of regular verbs. You’ll need to memorize its specific conjugations in each tense.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Contener (to contain) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | contengo |
| Tú | contienes |
| Él / Ella / Usted | contiene |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | contenemos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | contienen |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Contener (to contain) in the Present Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Contener in the Present Tense
Contener generally means to contain or hold something, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.
To contain or hold: For example, La caja contiene libros. (The box contains books.)
To restrain or control: For example, Contengo mi ira. (I contain my anger.)
To include or comprise: For example, El libro contiene muchos capítulos. (The book contains many chapters.)
Colloquial: To put up with: For example, No puedo contener a ese tipo. (I can’t put up with that guy.)
Vulgar: To hold back: For example, No puedo contener las ganas de ir al baño. (I can’t hold back the need to go to the bathroom.) Warning: This usage is considered rude.
Examples
Examples of Contener in the Present Tense
El envase contiene suficiente producto para un mes. (The container holds enough product for a month.)
Ella contiene su emoción durante la reunión. (She contains her emotion during the meeting.)
El libro contiene información valiosa sobre la historia local. (The book contains valuable information about local history.)
Nosotros contenemos la respiración mientras buceamos. (We hold our breath while diving.)
Los manifestantes contienen su enojo y protestan pacíficamente. (The protesters contain their anger and protest peacefully.)
El equipo contiene a los jugadores rivales y gana el partido. (The team contains the opposing players and wins the game.)
Tú contienes tus ganas de reír durante la obra de teatro. (You contain your urge to laugh during the play.)
La caja fuerte contiene los documentos importantes de la empresa. (The safe contains the company’s important documents.)
Ellos contienen su emoción cuando reciben las buenas noticias. (They contain their emotion when they receive the good news.)
Yo contengo mi entusiasmo hasta que confirmen los detalles. (I contain my enthusiasm until they confirm the details.)
La novela contiene descripciones vívidas de la vida rural. (The novel contains vivid descriptions of rural life.)
Ustedes contienen su decepción cuando pierden el juego. (You contain your disappointment when you lose the game.)
El discurso contiene un mensaje poderoso sobre la unidad. (The speech contains a powerful message about unity.)
Nosotros contenemos nuestra emoción hasta que llegamos a casa. (We contain our emotion until we get home.)
El paquete contiene regalos para toda la familia. (The package contains gifts for the whole family.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Contener (to contain) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo contengo | I contain |
| Tú contienes | You contain |
| Él / Ella / Usted contiene | He / She / You contains |
| Nosotros / Nosotras contenemos | We contain |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes contienen | They / You all contain |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.