Spanish Phrase
Mantén el transporte limpio.
Meaning
A direct command telling someone to keep the transport (buses, trains, subways, etc.) clean. It can be used as a reminder or a public notice encouraging passengers to take care of their shared space.
When to use
Use this phrase on signs inside buses or trains, in announcements, or when politely urging a fellow passenger to pick up litter or avoid making a mess.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Manténeltransportelimpio.
Imperative (tú) of mantener
‘Mantén’ is the affirmative imperative form for ‘tú’ of the verb ‘mantener’ (to keep, to maintain).
Definite article ‘el’
‘el’ is the masculine singular definite article that matches the noun ‘transporte’.
Noun ‘transporte’
‘transporte’ is a masculine singular noun meaning ‘transport’ or ‘the means of transport’.
Adjective agreement
‘limpio’ is a masculine singular adjective and must agree in gender and number with ‘transporte’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Podrías recoger esa botella que dejaste en el asiento?
Could you pick up that bottle you left on the seat?
¡Claro! Mantén el transporte limpio.
Sure! Keep the transport clean.
✕Common Mistakes
Mantén el transporte limpia.
The adjective must agree with the masculine noun ‘transporte’, so ‘limpio’ is correct.
Mantén los transporte limpio.
‘Transporte’ is singular; the article should be ‘el’, not ‘los’.
Mantener el transporte limpio.
In an imperative you need the conjugated form ‘Mantén’, not the infinitive.
↔Alternatives
Cuida la limpieza del transporte.
Take care of the transport’s cleanliness.
Mantén limpio el transporte.
Keep the transport clean.
Por favor, mantén el transporte limpio.
Please keep the transport clean.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking cities, public transport is seen as a shared responsibility. Signs with short imperatives like this are common in metros and buses, and they usually use the informal ‘tú’ form to sound friendly yet direct. Avoid overly formal language (e.g., ‘Mantenga…’) unless you’re addressing a specific authority figure.