Conjugation

Hold onto

tenir fermement

Irregular verb, phrasal verb.

Conjugated like uphold

  • Phrasal verb: onto

    Only hold changes; onto stays the same: held onto, held onto.

In speech, the helping verbs shorten: I’m, he’s, we’re, I’ve, I’ll, I’d.

Underlined: the stem is not the infinitive’s.

Newbie

Enough to talk about now, the past, and your plans, and to give instructions.

  1. Present simple

    Habits, facts, and how things usually are. To say no or ask, add do or does: I don't hold onto, he doesn't hold onto.

    1. I / you / we / they hold onto
    2. he / she / it holds onto

  2. Present continuous

    What is happening now, and plans already arranged: we’re leaving tomorrow.

    1. I am holding onto
    2. you / we / they are holding onto
    3. he / she / it is holding onto

  3. Past simple

    A finished action at a past time: yesterday, in 2020. To say no or ask, add did: I didn't hold onto.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they held onto

  4. Future with going to

    Plans and intentions, and what you can see coming: it’s going to rain.

    1. I am going to hold onto
    2. you / we / they are going to hold onto
    3. he / she / it is going to hold onto

  5. Imperative

    Orders, advice, and instructions. Let’s suggests doing it together. To say no: don't hold onto.

    1. (you) hold onto
    2. let's hold onto
BeginnerExperiences, what you were doing, and the future with will.Present perfect · Past continuous · Future with willAlso show the Beginner tenses (3)

  1. Present perfect

    The past linked to now: experiences, news, and what started earlier and still goes on: I’ve lived here for two years.

    1. I / you / we / they have held onto
    2. he / she / it has held onto

  2. Past continuous

    An action in progress at a past moment, often interrupted: I was cooking when you called.

    1. I / he / she / it was holding onto
    2. you / we / they were holding onto

  3. Future with will

    Predictions, promises, offers, and decisions made now: I’ll help you.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will hold onto
IntermediateHow long something has lasted, the past before the past, and what would happen.Present perfect continuous · Past perfect · Future continuous · Conditional · Conditional perfectAlso show the Intermediate tenses (5)

  1. Present perfect continuous

    An activity from the past until now, and how long it has lasted: I’ve been waiting for an hour.

    1. I / you / we / they have been holding onto
    2. he / she / it has been holding onto

  2. Past perfect

    The past before another past moment: when I arrived, the train had left.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they had held onto

  3. Future continuous

    An action in progress at a future moment: this time tomorrow, I’ll be flying.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will be holding onto

  4. Conditional

    What would happen in an imagined situation, and polite requests: if I had time, I would help.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would hold onto

  5. Conditional perfect

    What would have happened, but did not: if I had known, I would have come.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would have held onto
AdvancedWhat will have happened, and the longer continuous tenses.Past perfect continuous · Future perfect · Future perfect continuous · Conditional continuous · Conditional perfect continuousAlso show the Advanced tenses (5)

  1. Past perfect continuous

    An activity that had been going on until a past moment: she was tired because she had been running.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they had been holding onto

  2. Future perfect

    An action finished before a future moment: by Friday, I’ll have finished.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will have held onto

  3. Future perfect continuous

    How long an activity will have lasted at a future moment: in June, I’ll have been working here for a year.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will have been holding onto

  4. Conditional continuous

    An action that would be in progress in an imagined situation: if I were rich, I would be traveling now.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would be holding onto

  5. Conditional perfect continuous

    An activity that would have been going on in an imagined past: without the rain, we would have been playing outside.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would have been holding onto