Tenir – to hold, to keep

Holding a French Verb

Lesson on tenir
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Tenir is an irregular -ir verb with a multitude of meanings.

Tenir = to hold, to keep

The most common meanings of tenir are "to hold" and "to keep."

Par exemple…

Je veux tenir le chiot.   I want to hold the puppy.
Tu devras tenir mon sac.   You’ll have to hold my bag.
Tiens les bras levés.   Keep your arms raised.
Le café me tient éveillé.   Coffee keeps me awake.

Other meanings

1) To deal well with, handle, resist

Il tient mieux l’alcool que moi.   He holds his liquor better than I.
J’espère que le bateau tient la mer.   I hope the boat is seaworthy.
tenir le coup   to survive, last

2) To have/keep in check/under control

Il ne tient pas bien sa classe.   He doesn’t control his class well.
Il faut tenir les enfants.   You have to keep children in check.

3) To manage, run

J’aimerais bien tenir un hôtel.   I’d really like to manage a hotel.
Il cherche quelqu’un pour tenir la maison.   He’s looking for someone to manage the household.

4) To organize

On va tenir une conférence là-dessus.   We’re going to organize a conference about it.
Nous voulons tenir une réunion à huis clos.   We want to have a closed-door meeting.

5) To take up, occupy

Ta voiture tient toute l’allée.   Your car takes up the whole driveway.
Qui va tenir le rôle de Figaro ?   Who’s going to play the role of Figaro?

Tenir with prepositions

1) Tenir à

  • tenir à + noun

    a) "to care about, value"

    Il ne tient plus à la vie.   He doesn’t care about life any more, He has no will to live.
    Je tiens trop à ma voiture.   I’m too attached to my car.

    b) "to be due to, stem from"

    Ça tient au climat.   It’s due to the climate.
    Son succès tient à son charme.   His success stems from his charm.
  • tenir à + infinitive = "to be anxious / eager to, to insist on"
    Je tiens à vous connaître.   I'm anxious to meet you.
    Il tient à parler en premier.   He insists on speaking first.
  • tenir à ce que + subjunctive = "to be anxious / eager for, to insist that"
    Je tiens à ce que tu saches la vérité.   I'm eager for you to know the truth.
    Il tient à ce que nous partions.   He insists that we leave.

2) Tenir de

means "to get from, take after"

Il a tenu un renseignement du policier.   He got some information from the police officer
Je tiens de mon père.   I take after my father.

Se tenir

Se tenir is reflexive and has two possible meanings.

1. To be in a certain position / way

Tu dois te tenir tranquille.   You have to keep quiet.
Il se tient debout pendant toute la journée.   He stands up all day.

2. To behave

Les enfants se tiennent bien.   The children are well-behaved.
Normalement, il se tient bien.   He usually behaves.

Tenir in idiomatic expressions

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Tenir - to hold, to keep

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