Translation
to hold, to keep
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Word origin
From Vulgar Latin tenire, from Latin tenere ('to hold, to keep').
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- tenere
- English cognates
- tenant, tenacious, tenure
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular french-irregular conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | tiens | tenais | tins | tiendrai | tiendrais |
| tu | tiens | tenais | tins | tiendras | tiendrais |
| il/elle | tient | tenait | tint | tiendra | tiendrait |
| nous | tenons | tenions | tînmes | tiendrons | tiendrions |
| vous | tenez | teniez | tîntes | tiendrez | tiendriez |
| ils/elles | tiennent | tenaient | tinrent | tiendront | tiendraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | tienne | tinsse |
| tu | tiennes | tinsses |
| il/elle | tienne | tînt |
| nous | tenions | tinssions |
| vous | teniez | tinssiez |
| ils/elles | tiennent | tinssent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | tiens |
| nous | tenons |
| vous | tenez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- tenant
- Past participle
- tenu · tenue · tenus · tenues
Examples
, , .
Hold the door please, my hands are full.
.
He holds firm to his principles in all situations.
- , .
Hold on tight, the road is not safe this morning.
, .
Hold the rope tightly, I am going down into the well.
, .
He managed to keep that promise right to the end.
est un verbe irregulier du troisieme groupe, conjugue comme venir. Tenir + complement d'objet signifie tenir, maintenir. Tenir a + nom ou infinitif exprime l'attachement ou l'insistance : je tiens a te remercier (I really want to thank you). Se tenir (to stand, to behave) est la forme pronominale.
Tiens ! est une interjection de surprise ou d'invitation : Tiens, regarde ! (Oh look!), Tiens, prends ca (Here, take this). Tenir bon (to hold firm) et tenir parole (to keep one's word) sont des expressions de fiabilite. S'en tenir a (to stick to) delimite un cadre.
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(7)Grammar articles
(6)Advanced French Grammar (C1-C2): Constructions to Master
French Conditional Tense (Conditionnel): Endings and Uses
Regular -ir Verbs in French: Present Tense Conjugation
French Future Tense: Futur Simple vs Futur Proche
French Passé Simple (Past Historic): How to Recognise It
French Present Subjunctive Conjugation Tables and Irregulars
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Free printable study downloads for the French word "tenir" (to hold, to keep): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free week (no card)This word is taught in chapter 5, lesson 7: tenir, payer, combien and 7 more words.