detener Conditional Conjugation
detener — to stop
The conditional of detener uses the irregular stem 'detendr-': detendría, detendrías, etc.
detener Conditional Forms
When to Use the Conditional
Use the conditional to say you 'would stop' someone under certain conditions, or to make a polite request to stop an action.
Notes on detener in the Conditional
It shares the same irregular stem as the future (detendr-), but uses the -ía endings of the imperfect.
Example Sentences
¿Detendrías el coche si te lo pidiera?
Would you stop the car if I asked you?
tú
Nada detendría su ambición.
Nothing would stop his ambition.
él/ella/usted
Nos detendríamos, pero tenemos prisa.
We would stop, but we are in a hurry.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'detenería' instead of 'detendría'.
Correct: detendría
Why: The stem must change to 'detendr-' in the conditional, just like in the future tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: detengo
The present tense of detener is irregular, featuring a 'go' form in the first person (detengo) and a stem change (e to ie) in others.
Preterite
yo: detuve
The preterite of detener is highly irregular, using the 'uv' stem: detuve, detuviste, detuvo, detuvimos, detuvisteis, detuvieron.
Imperfect
yo: detenía
The imperfect of detener is regular: detenía, detenías, detenía, deteníamos, deteníais, detenían.
Future
yo: detendré
The future tense of detener uses the irregular stem 'detendr-': detendré, detendrás, detendrá, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: detenga
The present subjunctive of detener is based on the 'yo' form: detenga, detengas, detenga, detengamos, detengáis, detengan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: detuviera
The imperfect subjunctive of detener uses the preterite stem 'detuvier-'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: detén
The imperative for detener has a short 'tú' form: detén.
Negative Imperative
yo: no detengas
The negative imperative of detener uses the present subjunctive: no detengas, no detenga, no detengamos, no detengáis, no detengan.