The French verb "tenir" means "to hold" in English. It is an irregular verb. Below you'll find the complete conjugation tables for "tenir" across all 5 tenses. New to French verbs? Start with the French verb guide.
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How to Conjugate "tenir" in the Present Tense
Présent de l'indicatif Actions happening now or regularly| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | tiens |
| tu | you (informal) | tiens |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | tient |
| nous | we | tenons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | tenez |
| ils/elles | they | tiennent |
Elle tient un parapluie rouge.
She is holding a red umbrella.
How to Conjugate "tenir" in the Past (completed) Tense
Passé composé Actions completed in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | ai tenu |
| tu | you (informal) | as tenu |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | a tenu |
| nous | we | avons tenu |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | avez tenu |
| ils/elles | they | ont tenu |
Elle a tenu le bébé.
She held the baby.
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Imparfait Actions that were ongoing in the past| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | tenais |
| tu | you (informal) | tenais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | tenait |
| nous | we | tenions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | teniez |
| ils/elles | they | tenaient |
Elle tenait un journal intime.
She kept a diary.
How to Conjugate "tenir" in the Future Tense
Futur simple Actions that will happen| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | tiendrai |
| tu | you (informal) | tiendras |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | tiendra |
| nous | we | tiendrons |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | tiendrez |
| ils/elles | they | tiendront |
Elle tiendra le parapluie pour nous.
She will hold the umbrella for us.
How to Conjugate "tenir" in the Would (conditional) Tense
Conditionnel présent Hypothetical actions| Person | English | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| je | I | tiendrais |
| tu | you (informal) | tiendrais |
| il/elle/on | he/she/one | tiendrait |
| nous | we | tiendrions |
| vous | you (formal/plural) | tiendriez |
| ils/elles | they | tiendraient |
Elle tiendrait la porte.
She would hold the door.
Frequently Asked Questions About "tenir"
Is "tenir" regular or irregular in French?
"Tenir" is an irregular French verb, meaning its conjugation does not follow standard patterns and must be memorized individually.
What does "tenir" mean in English?
The French verb "tenir" means "to hold" in English.
How do you conjugate "tenir" in the present tense?
In the present tense (Présent de l'indicatif): je → tiens, tu → tiens, il/elle/on → tient, nous → tenons, vous → tenez, ils/elles → tiennent.
How many tenses does "tenir" have in French?
"Tenir" is conjugated across 5 tenses in French: Present, Past (completed), Past (ongoing), Future, Would (conditional).
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