entretener Present Conjugation
entretener — to entertain
Entretener follows the 'tener' pattern in the present: it has a 'go' in the yo form and an e-to-ie stem change.
entretener Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to talk about what currently keeps someone busy, hobbies that entertain you, or things that distract people regularly.
Notes on entretener in the Present
This verb is highly irregular. It uses a 'g' in the first person (entretengo) and changes the 'e' to 'ie' in all other forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Example Sentences
Yo siempre entretengo a mis sobrinos con cuentos.
I always entertain my nephews with stories.
yo
Esta película no me entretiene nada.
This movie doesn't entertain me at all.
él/ella/usted
¿Cómo se entretienen ustedes en el avión?
How do you all keep yourselves entertained on the plane?
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'entreteno' for the yo form.
Correct: entretengo
Why: Like 'tener', this verb adds a 'g' in the first person singular.
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Related Tenses
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.
Negative Imperative
yo: no entretengas
The negative imperative uses the present subjunctive: no entretengas, no entretenga.