The French verb tenir means “to hold,” but it appears in all kinds of everyday expressions with broader meanings. Take this quick quiz — answers are at the bottom so you can see how you did!
🧠 Can You Choose the Right Form of Tenir?
1. Je ne peux pas ___ mes émotions.
a) tenir
b) tiens
2. Tu ___ toujours tes promesses.
a) tiens
b) tenir
3. Elle ___ son sac très fort dans le métro.
a) tient
b) tenir
4. Ils ___ leurs enfants par la main pour traverser la rue.
a) tiennent
b) tienent
5. Il a ___ sa parole.
a) tenu
b) tenait
6. Il essaie de ___ l’équilibre sur la corde.
a) tenir
b) tient
7. Vous ne ___ pas compte de ce qu’elle a dit.
a) tenez
b) tenir
8. Les enfants ont du mal à ___ en place.
a) tenir
b) tiennent
📝 Answer Key + Quick Notes
1. a) tenir – The verb pouvoir (can, to be able to) is followed by an infinitive. Hence, “Je ne peux pas tenir mes émotions” (I can’t hold back my emotions.)
2. a) tiens – Use the present tense for tu.
You always keep your promises.
3. a) tient – Elle tient son sac (present tense) = She’s holding her bag. Loose translation:
She’s gripping her bag tightly on the metro.
4. a) tiennent – The subject is ils (they), so we need the present tense form: ils tiennent = they hold / are holding. I included b) ils tienent as students often forget the ils/elles form has a double-n.
5. a) tenu – Il a tenu sa parole = He kept his word (expression). The answer is tenu because this sentence uses the passé composé.
6. a) tenir – After essaie de, you must use the infinitive: tenir.
Il essaie de tenir l’équilibre = He’s trying to keep his balance.
7. a) tenez – Vous ne tenez pas compte (present tense) = You don’t take into account. Ce que is an indefinite relative pronoun meaning “what”.
You’re not taking what she said into account.
8. a) tenir – Put the infinitive after ont du mal à: avoir du mal à tenir en place. The expression avoir du mal à means “to have a hard time doing something”.
The kids have trouble staying still.
📚 Keep Learning: More Tenir Lessons
🎯 Want to try more quizzes?
Donner (to give) »
Passer (to pass) »
Venir (to come) »
Mettre (to put) »
