The Present Tense of Retener is used to express actions happening now or facts that are currently true. For example, Retengo la información para el examen. (I retain the information for the exam.)

Retener is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugations do not follow a set pattern in the present tense. You’ll need to memorize each form individually.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Retener (to retain) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Retener generally means to retain, hold back or keep something, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To retain or keep: For example, Retengo la información en mi mente. (I retain the information in my mind.)

To hold back or withhold: For example, El gobierno retiene impuestos de nuestros salarios. (The government withholds taxes from our salaries.)

To detain or hold someone: For example, La policía retiene a los sospechosos. (The police detain the suspects.)

To constrain or control: For example, No puedo retener mi ira. (I can’t contain my anger.)

To remember or recall (colloquial): For example, No retengo los nombres de las personas. (I don’t remember people’s names.)

Examples

Examples of Retener in the Present Tense

Yo retengo mucha información cuando estudio. (I retain a lot of information when I study.)

Mi hermana retiene los números de teléfono con facilidad. (My sister retains phone numbers easily.)

¿Retienes lo que aprendiste en la clase de español? (Do you retain what you learned in Spanish class?)

Los atletas retienen líquidos para mantenerse hidratados. (Athletes retain fluids to stay hydrated.)

Retenemos la información importante para el examen. (We retain the important information for the exam.)

Mis amigos retienen los chistes y los cuentan una y otra vez. (My friends retain jokes and tell them over and over again.)

La esponja retiene mucha agua. (The sponge retains a lot of water.)

¿Por qué no retienes los consejos que te doy? (Why don’t you retain the advice I give you?)

Los actores retienen sus líneas de diálogo con la práctica. (Actors retain their lines through practice.)

Nosotros retenemos los recuerdos felices de nuestra infancia. (We retain the happy memories from our childhood.)

La memoria retiene detalles importantes. (Memory retains important details.)

¿Cómo retienes tanta información? (How do you retain so much information?)

Ellos retienen la esperanza de un futuro mejor. (They retain hope for a better future.)

La tierra retiene el agua de lluvia. (The soil retains rainwater.)

Nosotros retenemos las tradiciones familiares. (We retain family traditions.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Retener (to retain) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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.