The preterite of contener is used to express a specific instance of containing or restraining something in the past, for example La caja contuvo todos los regalos (The box contained all the gifts). This tense emphasizes the completed action of containing at a defined moment.

This is an irregular verb that follows the same pattern as ‘tener’ in the preterite. The stem changes to ‘contuv-‘ throughout most of its conjugation, creating a distinct pattern that must be memorized.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Contener (to contain) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

The preterite of contener expresses a completed action of containing or restraining in the past.

To contain: Describes holding or including something, for example La caja contuvo todos los documentos (The box contained all the documents) or El informe contuvo información importante (The report contained important information).

To hold back/restrain: Used for controlling or restraining, for example Contuvo su ira (He/she contained their anger).

To stop/check: Used for preventing movement or spread, for example Contuvieron la inundación (They contained the flood).

Examples

Examples of Contener in the Preterite (Past) Tense

La caja contuvo todos los regalos. (The box contained all the gifts.)

Contuve mis emociones durante la ceremonia. (I contained my emotions during the ceremony.)

Contuviste la respiración bajo el agua. (You held your breath underwater.)

El equipo contuvo al rival durante el partido. (The team contained the opponent during the match.)

Contuvimos la risa en la biblioteca. (We contained our laughter in the library.)

Los muros contuvieron el agua durante la inundación. (The walls contained the water during the flood.)

Contuve las lágrimas al despedirme. (I held back tears when saying goodbye.)

Contuviste tu enojo admirablemente. (You contained your anger admirably.)

La represa contuvo el río crecido. (The dam contained the swollen river.)

Contuvimos el avance del fuego. (We contained the advance of the fire.)

Los guardias contuvieron a la multitud. (The guards contained the crowd.)

Contuve mi impulso de interrumpir. (I contained my impulse to interrupt.)

Contuviste el secreto por años. (You kept the secret for years.)

El frasco contuvo la sustancia peligrosa. (The flask contained the dangerous substance.)

Contuvimos la epidemia a tiempo. (We contained the epidemic in time.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Contener (to contain) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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

Synonyms

The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.