Spanish Phrase
Intenta mantener tus movimientos tranquilos y controlados.
Meaning
‘Try to keep your movements calm and controlled.’ The sentence gives a gentle instruction, often heard in sports, dance or any activity that requires fluid, deliberate motion.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to advise someone to stay relaxed while moving – for example, a coach speaking to an athlete, a dance teacher guiding a student, or a friend giving safety tips while climbing.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Intentamantenertusmovimientostranquilosycontrolados
Imperative (tú) – Intenta
‘Intenta’ is the affirmative imperative of the verb *intentar* for the informal ‘tú’ subject. No accent is needed because the stress naturally falls on the penultimate syllable.
Infinitive after Imperative – mantener
In Spanish, an infinitive verb often follows an imperative verb to express ‘try to …’. Here *mantener* (to keep) follows *intenta*.
Possessive adjective – tus
‘Tus’ is the plural possessive adjective meaning ‘your’. It must agree in number with the noun it modifies.
Noun – movimientos
‘Movimientos’ is a masculine plural noun (the movements). All adjectives that describe it must also be masculine plural.
Adjective agreement – tranquilos y controlados
Both adjectives are masculine plural to match *movimientos*. The conjunction *y* simply links two equal qualities.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cómo puedo mejorar mi postura al bailar?
How can I improve my posture while dancing?
Intenta mantener tus movimientos tranquilos y controlados.
Try to keep your movements calm and controlled.
✕Common Mistakes
Intentas mantener tus movimientos tranquilos y controlados.
The imperative for ‘tú’ drops the final *s*; *intentas* is the present indicative, not a command.
Intenta mantener tus movimientos tranquila y controlado.
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with *movimientos* (masculine plural).
Intenta mantener a tus movimientos tranquilos y controlados.
The infinitive *mantener* does not take a preposition here; the direct object follows it directly.
↔Alternatives
Intenta mover tus brazos con calma.
Try to move your arms calmly.
Procura que tus gestos sean serenos y precisos.
Make sure your gestures are serene and precise.
Mantén la calma y controla cada paso.
Stay calm and control each step.
Cultural Tip
In Spanish‑speaking countries, the combination *tranquilos y controlados* is a staple in instructions for dance, martial arts, and even driving lessons. It conveys a polite, encouraging tone rather than a strict command. When speaking to children or beginners, you might soften it further with *por favor* or *intenta* + *por favor*.