detenerla
deh-teh-NEHR-lah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ella corría muy rápido y fue imposible detenerla.
A2She was running very fast and it was impossible to stop her.
Si la hemorragia no para, tenemos que detenerla pronto.
B1If the bleeding doesn't stop, we have to stop it soon.
La policía tiene una orden para detenerla.
B1The police have a warrant to arrest her.
💡 Grammar Points
The attached 'la'
The 'la' at the end of 'detenerla' means 'her' or 'it'. In Spanish, when you use the 'to' form of a verb, you glue these little helper words directly to the end.
Irregular root
This word comes from 'tener' (to have), so it follows the same patterns, like changing from 'e' to 'ie' in some forms.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'lo' for females
Mistake: "detenerlo (referring to a girl)"
Correction: Use 'detenerla' for females or feminine things (like 'la pelota'), and 'detenerlo' only for males or masculine things.
⭐ Usage Tips
Is it a person or a thing?
Since 'la' can mean 'her' or 'it', use the context! If you're talking about a car (una máquina), it means 'it'. If you're talking about Maria, it means 'her'.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: detenerla
Question 1 of 2
In the sentence 'Quiero detenerla', what does 'la' refer to?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'detenerla' mean 'to arrest her'?
Yes! While it often means to physically stop someone from moving, in a legal context, it is the standard word for 'to arrest' or 'to detain'.
Why is 'la' at the end and not at the beginning?
In Spanish, when a verb is in its basic 'infinitive' form (ending in -ar, -er, or -ir), you must attach pronouns like 'la' to the end of the word.