Meaning and behavior
What does detener mean?
Detener means to detain. VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -ER verb. It is non-reflexive.
to arrest; to stop, halt, to pause.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- detener
- Gerund
- deteniendo
- Past participle
- detenido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -er pattern in the present, preterite, future.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of detener for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Detener |
|---|---|
| yo | detengo |
| tú | detienes |
| él / ella / usted | detiene |
| nosotros / nosotras | detenemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | detenéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | detienen |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of detener is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Detener |
|---|---|
| yo | detuve |
| tú | detuviste |
| él / ella / usted | detuvo |
| nosotros / nosotras | detuvimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | detuvisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | detuvieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of detener, or for background information.
| Subject | Detener |
|---|---|
| yo | detenía |
| tú | detenías |
| él / ella / usted | detenía |
| nosotros / nosotras | deteníamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | deteníais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | detenían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of detener for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Detener |
|---|---|
| yo | detendré |
| tú | detendrás |
| él / ella / usted | detendrá |
| nosotros / nosotras | detendremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | detendréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | detendrán |
Verified context
Examples with detener
¿Por qué no los detuviste?
Why didn't you stop them?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRLa policía le detuvo por robo.
The police arrested him for theft.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR¿Por qué la policía no detiene a Tom?
Why don't the police arrest Tom?
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Detener FAQ
What does detener mean?
Detener means to detain.
Is detener regular or irregular?
Detener is a irregular -ER verb.
What is the gerund of detener?
The gerund of detener is deteniendo.
What is the past participle of detener?
The past participle of detener is detenido.
How is detener conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is detengo, detienes, detiene, detenemos, detienen.
How is detener conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is detuve, detuviste, detuvo, detuvimos, detuvieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.