The Conditional Mood of retener is used to express what you would do under certain circumstances, for example: Retendría el pago si el trabajo no se completara correctamente. (I would withhold payment if the work were not completed correctly.)

Retener is a regular verb in Spanish, which means its conjugations in the Conditional follow the same pattern as other verbs ending in -er.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Retener (to retain) in the Conditional Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

The conditional mood of retener is used to express hypothetical situations, wishes, or possibilities in the future.

To retain or keep: For example, retendría el dinero en el banco (I would keep the money in the bank). This meaning suggests holding onto something or preventing it from being lost or taken away.

To withhold or hold back: For example, retendría la información hasta nuevo aviso (I would withhold the information until further notice). This usage implies restraining or not revealing something.

To remember or recall: For example, no retendría todos los detalles (I wouldn’t remember all the details). This meaning relates to keeping information in one’s memory.

To detain or arrest (colloquial): For example, la policía te retendría si no cooperas (the police would detain you if you don’t cooperate). In informal contexts, it can mean to temporarily deprive someone of their freedom.

Examples

Examples of Retener in the Conditional Mood

Si retendría más información, estudiaría con más frecuencia. (If I would retain more information, I would study more often.)

El entrenador nos dijo que retendríamos las jugadas con más práctica. (The coach told us that we would retain the plays with more practice.)

¿Crees que retendrías los detalles importantes si tomaras notas? (Do you think you would retain the important details if you took notes?)

Aunque retendría más vocabulario si lo usara con frecuencia, a veces se me olvidan las palabras. (Although I would retain more vocabulary if I used it frequently, sometimes I forget words.)

Los actores retendrían mejor sus líneas si ensayaran más seguido. (The actors would retain their lines better if they rehearsed more often.)

Mamá, ¿crees que retendríamos más recuerdos si tomáramos más fotos? (Mom, do you think we would retain more memories if we took more photos?)

El instructor dijo que retendríamos la información más fácilmente si la aplicáramos en la vida real. (The instructor said we would retain the information more easily if we applied it to real life.)

Aunque retendrían los conceptos con más facilidad, algunos estudiantes no prestan atención en clase. (Although they would retain the concepts more easily, some students don’t pay attention in class.)

Si retendríais las instrucciones, no tendríais tantos problemas armando el mueble. (If you all would retain the instructions, you wouldn’t have so many problems assembling the furniture.)

Los expertos dicen que retendríamos más información si durmiéramos mejor por la noche. (Experts say we would retain more information if we slept better at night.)

Aunque retendrían los detalles importantes, algunos empleados no toman notas durante las reuniones. (Although they would retain the important details, some employees don’t take notes during meetings.)

Si retendría los nombres de las personas que conozco, sería mucho más fácil socializar. (If I would retain the names of people I meet, it would be much easier to socialize.)

Los turistas retendrían más recuerdos de sus viajes si llevaran un diario. (Tourists would retain more memories from their trips if they kept a journal.)

Aunque retendrías más información si prestaras más atención, a veces es difícil concentrarse. (Although you would retain more information if you paid more attention, sometimes it’s hard to concentrate.)

Si retendríais las reglas del juego, no tendríais tantas discusiones durante los partidos. (If you all would retain the rules of the game, you wouldn’t have so many arguments during matches.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Retener (to retain) in the Conditional Mood tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

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

Synonyms

The Conditional mood is also known as the Simple Conditional, Conditional Simple, Would Tense, or Future of the Past in English, and as Condicional Simple, Pospretérito, Potencial Simple, or Condicional de Indicativo in Spanish.