The Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) of Contener is used to give direct orders or instructions, for example: Contén tu ira. (Contain your anger.)

Contener is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation follows a unique pattern that must be memorized.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Contener (to contain) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Latin American Spanish):

Contener generally means to contain or hold something, but has several different meanings in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands), some of which might surprise you.

To contain or hold: For example, Contén tu ira (Contain your anger).

To restrain or control: For example, Contente, no hagas una locura (Restrain yourself, don’t do something crazy).

To stop or halt: For example, ¡Contén el auto! (Stop the car!).

To withhold or suppress (colloquial): For example, Contén tus ganas de reírte (Suppress your urge to laugh).

To calm down or relax (colloquial): For example, ¡Contente un poco, viejo! (Calm down a bit, dude!).

Examples

Examples of Contener in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands)

¡Contén tu ira! No vale la pena enojarse por eso. (Contain your anger! It’s not worth getting upset over that.)

Amigos, contengamos nuestra emoción por ahora y celebremos después del partido. (Friends, let’s contain our excitement for now and celebrate after the game.)

Señores, les pido que contengan sus comentarios hasta el final de la presentación. (Gentlemen, I ask that you contain your comments until the end of the presentation.)

Antes de salir, contén tus ganas de gritar de la emoción. (Before going out, contain your urge to shout with excitement.)

Equipo, contengamos nuestras emociones y mantengamos la calma en esta situación difícil. (Team, let’s contain our emotions and keep calm in this difficult situation.)

Amigo, contén tus impulsos y piensa antes de actuar. (Friend, contain your impulses and think before acting.)

Por favor, contengan su alegría hasta que todos hayamos recibido nuestros resultados. (Please contain your joy until we have all received our results.)

Hija, contén tus lágrimas, todo va a estar bien. (Daughter, contain your tears, everything will be alright.)

Compañeros, contengamos nuestras risas para no interrumpir la reunión. (Colleagues, let’s contain our laughter so as not to interrupt the meeting.)

Antes de abrir el regalo, contén tu curiosidad un poco más. (Before opening the gift, contain your curiosity a little longer.)

Fans, contengan su emoción hasta que el equipo salga al campo. (Fans, contain your excitement until the team takes the field.)

Chicos, contengamos nuestras ganas de reír para no molestar a los demás. (Guys, let’s contain our urge to laugh so we don’t bother others.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Contener (to contain) in the Imperative Mood (Affirmative Commands) tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperative mood is also known as the Command Form, Affirmative Command Mood, or Direct Command Form in English, and as Modo Imperativo, Imperativo Afirmativo, Mandatos Afirmativos, or Forma de Mandato in Spanish.