Meaning and behavior
What does sostener mean?
Sostener means to hold, to hold up, to prop up, to sustain, to underpin (physically). VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -ER verb. It is non-reflexive.
to sustain, to support, to keep (i.e. to give continuity to); to support, to uphold, to hold, to sustain, to contend, to maintain, to argue, to claim, to underpin, to defend.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- sostener
- Gerund
- sosteniendo
- Past participle
- sostenido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -er pattern in the present, preterite, future.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of sostener for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Sostener |
|---|---|
| yo | sostengo |
| tú | sostienes |
| él / ella / usted | sostiene |
| nosotros / nosotras | sostenemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | sostenéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | sostienen |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of sostener is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Sostener |
|---|---|
| yo | sostuve |
| tú | sostuviste |
| él / ella / usted | sostuvo |
| nosotros / nosotras | sostuvimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | sostuvisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | sostuvieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of sostener, or for background information.
| Subject | Sostener |
|---|---|
| yo | sostenía |
| tú | sostenías |
| él / ella / usted | sostenía |
| nosotros / nosotras | sosteníamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | sosteníais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | sostenían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of sostener for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Sostener |
|---|---|
| yo | sostendré |
| tú | sostendrás |
| él / ella / usted | sostendrá |
| nosotros / nosotras | sostendremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | sostendréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | sostendrán |
Verified context
Examples with sostener
Él sostenía una caja grande en los brazos.
He was holding a large box in his arms.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRTom sostuvo una pistola en la cabeza de Mary.
Tom held a gun to Mary's head.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRNo sostendré eso en tu contra.
I won't hold that against you.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Sostener FAQ
What does sostener mean?
Sostener means to hold, to hold up, to prop up, to sustain, to underpin (physically).
Is sostener regular or irregular?
Sostener is a irregular -ER verb.
What is the gerund of sostener?
The gerund of sostener is sosteniendo.
What is the past participle of sostener?
The past participle of sostener is sostenido.
How is sostener conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is sostengo, sostienes, sostiene, sostenemos, sostienen.
How is sostener conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is sostuve, sostuviste, sostuvo, sostuvimos, sostuvieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.