A container or text can have things inside it.

The idea

Use contener with the contents as a direct object. The present includes contengo and contiene.

Patterns to compare
PersonaPresente
yocontengo
túcontienes
él / ella / ustedcontiene
nosotros / nosotrascontenemos
vosotros / vosotrascontenéis
ellos / ellas / ustedescontienen

Examples

  • La caja contiene tres vasos.The box contains three glasses.
  • El informe contiene datos nuevos.The report contains new data.
  • Este frasco contiene miel.This jar contains honey.
  • El libro contiene un mapa antiguo.The book contains an old map.
  • Los paquetes contienen semillas.The packages contain seeds.
  • La carta contiene buenas noticias.The letter contains good news.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not use contiene with a plural subject: use contienen.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct form: El sobre ___ una foto. (contiene / contienen)

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    contiene

    contiene agrees with the singular envelope.

  2. Choose the correct form: Las bolsas ___ arroz. (contiene / contienen)

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    contienen

    contienen agrees with the plural bags.

  3. Choose the correct form: Yo ___ la respiración. (contengo / conteno)

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    contengo

    contengo is the first-person form.

Use it today

Describe the contents of a parcel in one sentence.