entretener Present Subjunctive Conjugation
entretener — to entertain
The present subjunctive uses the 'entreteng-' stem: entretenga, entretengas.
entretener Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this after expressions of desire, doubt, or impersonal phrases (e.g., 'It's important that the show entertains the public').
Notes on entretener in the Present Subjunctive
The stem is based on the 'yo' form of the present indicative (entretengo), so the 'g' appears in all forms.
Example Sentences
Espero que la función te entretenga.
I hope the performance entertains you.
él/ella/usted
Busco un video que entretenga a los niños.
I'm looking for a video that entertains the children.
él/ella/usted
No quiero que te entretengas por mi culpa.
I don't want you to be delayed because of me.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'entretienga'.
Correct: entretenga
Why: While the present indicative has a stem change (entretiene), the subjunctive follows the 'yo' form (entretengo) and keeps the 'g' without the 'ie'.
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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.
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.