detener
In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.
1.Presente
Presente
Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.
| yo | detengo |
| tú | detienes |
| él/ella | detiene |
| nosotros | detenemos |
| vosotros | detenéis |
| ellos/ellas | detienen |
Yo detengo el coche en el semáforo.
I stop the car at the traffic light.
Ella detiene la música cuando llega la visita.
She stops the music when the guests arrive.
2.Pretérito Indefinido
Pretérito Indefinido
Completed actions at a specific point in the past.
| yo | detuve |
| tú | detuviste |
| él/ella | detuvo |
| nosotros | detuvimos |
| vosotros | detuvisteis |
| ellos/ellas | detuvieron |
Ayer detuve el tren a tiempo.
Yesterday I stopped the train on time.
Él detuvo la reunión antes de que empezara.
He stopped the meeting before it started.
3.Imperfecto
Imperfecto
Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.
| yo | detenía |
| tú | detenías |
| él/ella | detenía |
| nosotros | deteníamos |
| vosotros | deteníais |
| ellos/ellas | detenían |
Cuando era niño, siempre detenía el juego para cenar.
When I was a child, I always stopped the game for dinner.
Ella detenía su trabajo cada vez que la llamaban.
She stopped her work every time they called her.
4.Futuro Simple
Futuro Simple
Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.
| yo | detendré |
| tú | detendrás |
| él/ella | detendrá |
| nosotros | detendremos |
| vosotros | detendréis |
| ellos/ellas | detendrán |
Mañana detendré el proyecto por un momento.
Tomorrow I will stop the project for a moment.
Ellos detendrán la producción si hay problemas.
They will stop the production if there are problems.
5.Condicional
Condicional
Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
| yo | detendría |
| tú | detendrías |
| él/ella | detendría |
| nosotros | detendríamos |
| vosotros | detendríais |
| ellos/ellas | detendrían |
Si tuviera tiempo, detendría el reloj.
If I had time, I would stop the clock.
Ella detendría el coche si viera un accidente.
She would stop the car if she saw an accident.
6.Subjuntivo Presente
Subjuntivo Presente
Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.
| yo | detenga |
| tú | detengas |
| él/ella | detenga |
| nosotros | detengamos |
| vosotros | detengáis |
| ellos/ellas | detengan |
Es importante que yo detenga el ruido.
It's important that I stop the noise.
Espero que ellos detengan el conflicto pronto.
I hope they stop the conflict soon.
7.Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Subjuntivo Imperfecto
Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.
| yo | detuviera |
| tú | detuvieras |
| él/ella | detuviera |
| nosotros | detuviéramos |
| vosotros | detuvierais |
| ellos/ellas | detuvieran |
Si yo detuviera el tiempo, lo haría para disfrutar más.
If I could stop time, I would do it to enjoy more.
Ojalá que ella detuviera su tristeza.
I wish she would stop her sadness.
"detener" in other languages
Related verbs
Common questions
- Is "detener" regular or irregular in Spanish?
- "detener" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -er conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
- How do you conjugate "detener" in the present tense?
- In the Presente, "detener" conjugates as: detienes, detengo, detienen, and more. See the full table above.
- What is the past tense of "detener" in Spanish?
- In the Pretérito Indefinido, "detener" conjugates as: detuviste, detuve, detuvieron, and more. See the full table above.
- How common is "detener" in Spanish?
- "detener" (to stop, to detain) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.