
detener Present Subjunctive Conjugation
detener — to stop
The present subjunctive of detener is based on the 'yo' form: detenga, detengas, detenga, detengamos, detengáis, detengan.
detener Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this after expressions of desire, doubt, or necessity—for example, 'Espero que la policía lo detenga' (I hope the police stop him).
Notes on detener in the Present Subjunctive
Because the 'yo' form is 'detengo', the subjunctive stem becomes 'deteng-'. This 'g' persists through all persons.
Example Sentences
Es importante que detengas el sangrado.
It is important that you stop the bleeding.
tú
Dudo que detengan la construcción hoy.
I doubt they will stop the construction today.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Busco a alguien que detenga esta locura.
I'm looking for someone who can stop this madness.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'detiena' for the subjunctive.
Correct: detenga
Why: The subjunctive is built from the 'yo' form (detengo), not the 'tú' form (detienes).
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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.
Conditional
yo: detendría
The conditional of detener uses the irregular stem 'detendr-': detendría, detendrías, etc.
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.