The Present Subjunctive of retener is used to express desires, doubts, or uncertainty about retaining or keeping something, for example: Espero que retengas la información. (I hope you retain the information.)

Retener is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugations do not follow the typical patterns of regular verbs. You’ll need to memorize its unique set of conjugations for the Present Subjunctive.

Conjugations

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

Retener generally means “to retain” or “to hold back”, but has several different meanings in the Subjunctive Mood, some of which might surprise you.

To retain or keep something: for example, Es importante que retengas la información para el examen. (It’s important that you retain the information for the exam.)

To withhold or hold back: for example, Que no retengas tus emociones y expreses lo que sientes. (Don’t hold back your emotions and express what you feel.)

To remember or keep in mind: for example, Retengan bien estas instrucciones para que no se olviden. (Keep these instructions in mind so you don’t forget them.)

To detain or keep someone from leaving: for example, Que la policía no te retenga por conducir ebrio. (Don’t let the police detain you for drunk driving.)

To absorb or soak up (liquids): for example, Necesitamos una esponja que retenga bien el agua. (We need a sponge that absorbs water well.)

To stop or prevent (colloquial): for example, Ojalá que nada te retenga de cumplir tus sueños. (Hopefully nothing stops you from fulfilling your dreams.)

Examples

Examples of Retener in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que retengas la información clave para el examen. (It’s important that you retain the key information for the exam.)

Para que el proyecto tenga éxito, es necesario que todos retengamos los detalles importantes. (For the project to be successful, it’s necessary that we all retain the important details.)

Aunque no lo creas, el instructor recomienda que retengan los apuntes de la clase anterior. (Although you may not believe it, the instructor recommends that you retain the notes from the previous class.)

Ojalá que retengas los buenos hábitos que has aprendido durante tu estancia aquí. (I hope you retain the good habits you’ve learned during your stay here.)

Es crucial que retengamos la calma en situaciones estresantes. (It’s crucial that we retain our calm in stressful situations.)

El entrenador insistió en que los jugadores retengáis la concentración durante todo el partido. (The coach insisted that the players retain their concentration throughout the entire game.)

Aunque cueste trabajo, es importante que retengan la compostura en momentos difíciles. (Although it’s difficult, it’s important that they retain their composure in difficult moments.)

Espero que retengas los buenos modales que te hemos enseñado. (I hope you retain the good manners we’ve taught you.)

Para tener éxito en los negocios, es esencial que retengas la confianza de tus clientes. (To be successful in business, it’s essential that you retain your clients’ trust.)

Aunque sea difícil, es importante que retengamos la esperanza en tiempos oscuros. (Although it’s difficult, it’s important that we retain hope in dark times.)

El médico recomienda que retengan una dieta saludable para mantener un buen estado físico. (The doctor recommends that they retain a healthy diet to maintain good physical condition.)

Ojalá que retengáis los valores familiares que os hemos inculcado. (I hope you retain the family values we’ve instilled in you.)

Para conservar la amistad, es necesario que retengan el respeto mutuo. (To preserve the friendship, it’s necessary that they retain mutual respect.)

Aunque sea tentador, es importante que retengas la disciplina y no cedas a las distracciones. (Although it’s tempting, it’s important that you retain discipline and don’t give in to distractions.)

El líder de la comunidad pidió que retengamos nuestra identidad cultural a pesar de la globalización. (The community leader asked that we retain our cultural identity despite globalization.)

Conjugations with English Translations

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

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

Synonyms

The Subjunctive mood is also known as the Simple Subjunctive, Subjunctive Present, or Present Subjunctive Mood in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Presente del Modo Subjuntivo, or Tiempo Presente del Subjuntivo in Spanish.