
entretener Conditional Conjugation
entretener — to entertain
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'entretendr-': entretendría, entretendrías.
entretener Conditional Forms
When to Use the Conditional
Use this to say what 'would' entertain someone or to politely ask if someone has a moment (without wanting to 'delay' them).
Notes on entretener in the Conditional
It shares the same irregular stem as the future tense (entretendr-), but uses the -ía endings.
Example Sentences
Esa película me entretendría más si fuera más corta.
That movie would entertain me more if it were shorter.
yo
¿Crees que este libro les entretendría?
Do you think this book would entertain them?
él/ella/usted
No te entretendríamos si supiéramos que tienes prisa.
We wouldn't keep you if we knew you were in a hurry.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'entretenería' instead of 'entretendría'.
Correct: entretendría
Why: The stem must change to include the 'd', just like in the future tense.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: entretengo
Entretener follows the 'tener' pattern in the present: it has a 'go' in the yo form and an e-to-ie stem change.
Preterite
yo: entretuve
The preterite of entretener uses the irregular 'tuv' stem: entretuve, entretuviste, entretuvo.
Imperfect
yo: entretenía
Entretener is regular in the imperfect: entretenía, entretenías, entretenía.
Future
yo: entretendré
The future tense uses the irregular stem 'entretendr-': entretendré, entretendrás.
Present Subjunctive
yo: entretenga
The present subjunctive uses the 'entreteng-' stem: entretenga, entretengas.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: entretuviera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'entretuvier-' stem: entretuviera, entretuvieras.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: entretén
The imperative uses 'entretén' for tú and 'entretengan' for formal commands.
Negative Imperative
yo: no entretengas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no entretengas, no entretenga.