entretener Negative Imperative Conjugation
entretener — to entertain
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no entretengas, no entretenga.
entretener Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to get distracted or not to delay someone else.
Notes on entretener in the Negative Imperative
It uses the 'g' stem (entreteng-) for all forms, matching the present subjunctive.
Example Sentences
No te entretengas por el camino, llega pronto.
Don't get distracted on the way, arrive soon.
tú
No entretengan al personal, están trabajando.
Don't delay the staff, they are working.
ustedes
No me entretenga más, tengo una cita.
Don't keep me any longer, I have an appointment.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no entretén'.
Correct: no te entretengas
Why: Negative commands never use the affirmative imperative form; they always use the subjunctive.
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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.
Conditional
yo: entretendría
The conditional uses the irregular stem 'entretendr-': entretendría, entretendrías.
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.