mantendo

Mantendo is the gerund form of the Portuguese verb manter, used to indicate an action or state that is ongoing. It conveys notions of keeping, maintaining, preserving, or upholding, and is common in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese. As a gerund, mantendo often functions to express a progressive aspect or to describe a concurrent action relative to another verb.

Etymology and form: The verb manter derives from Latin manēre, meaning to stay or remain. The gerund mantende is formed by adding the suffix -ndo to the infinitive manter, yielding mantido in the past participle and mantendo in the present participle. In contemporary usage, mantendo is employed similarly across dialects to denote ongoing activity.

Usage and nuances: Mantendo frequently appears with auxiliary verbs to express ongoing action, most commonly with estar, especially in Brazilian Portuguese: "Ele está mantendo o ritmo." In European Portuguese, speakers may prefer the construction "estar a manter" to convey progressive meaning: "Ele está a manter o ritmo." Mantendo can also introduce adverbial or participial clauses: "Mantendo-se firme, ela enfrentou a situação." In formal writing, some style guides discourage excessive gerund usage in subordinate clauses and suggest alternative constructions such as "continuar a manter" or "a manter."

Examples: Ela está mantendo a casa em ordem. Mantendo a calma, ele respondeu à pergunta. Mantendo o foco, a equipe avançou.

See also: manter; gerúndio (Portuguese); estilo de escritura.