Detener Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb detener means to stop, to detain, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Detener means to stop or to detain, and it covers stopping a car or a process, and the police detaining or arresting someone. It follows the pattern of tener, with the present detengo, the preterite detuve and the future detendré, so it is one of the irregular verbs that rewards careful study. Like every Spanish verb, detener changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say detengo el coche en el control, and in the preterite you say detuve la obra por la lluvia. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: detener
  • English: to stop, to detain
  • Verb type: irregular verb, stem-changing (e → ie)
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: deteniendo
  • Past participle: detenido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + detenido)
  • Stem change: e → ie in the present, present subjunctive and imperative; nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for detener, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Detener follows tener: the present is detengo, the preterite is detuve, and the future is detendré.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for detener. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.

Present indicative

Person Form
yo detengo
tú detienes
él/ella/Ud. detiene
nosotros/as detenemos
vosotros/as detenéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. detienen

Preterite

Person Form
yo detuve
tú detuviste
él/ella/Ud. detuvo
nosotros/as detuvimos
vosotros/as detuvisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. detuvieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo detenía
tú detenías
él/ella/Ud. detenía
nosotros/as deteníamos
vosotros/as deteníais
ellos/ellas/Uds. detenían

Future

Person Form
yo detendré
tú detendrás
él/ella/Ud. detendrá
nosotros/as detendremos
vosotros/as detendréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. detendrán

Conditional

Person Form
yo detendría
tú detendrías
él/ella/Ud. detendría
nosotros/as detendríamos
vosotros/as detendríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. detendrían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he detenido
tú has detenido
él/ella/Ud. ha detenido
nosotros/as hemos detenido
vosotros/as habéis detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. han detenido

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había detenido
tú habías detenido
él/ella/Ud. había detenido
nosotros/as habíamos detenido
vosotros/as habíais detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían detenido

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré detenido
tú habrás detenido
él/ella/Ud. habrá detenido
nosotros/as habremos detenido
vosotros/as habréis detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán detenido

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría detenido
tú habrías detenido
él/ella/Ud. habría detenido
nosotros/as habríamos detenido
vosotros/as habríais detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían detenido

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo detenga
tú detengas
él/ella/Ud. detenga
nosotros/as detengamos
vosotros/as detengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. detengan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo detuviera
tú detuvieras
él/ella/Ud. detuviera
nosotros/as detuviéramos
vosotros/as detuvierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. detuvieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú detén
él/ella/Ud. detenga
nosotros/as detengamos
vosotros/as detened
ellos/ellas/Uds. detengan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú detengas
él/ella/Ud. detenga
nosotros/as detengamos
vosotros/as detengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. detengan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund deteniendo with estar for the progressive: estoy deteniendo
Past participle detenido with haber for the perfect tenses: he detenido

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Detengo el coche en el control. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Preterite

Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, detuve al ladrón en la calle. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect

Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For detener, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, detenía la obra por la lluvia. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future

Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, detendré el tráfico en la avenida. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional

Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Detendría el coche en el control si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present perfect

Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For detener, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he detenido al ladrón en la calle. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Pluperfect

Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For detener, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había detenido la obra por la lluvia antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future perfect

Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For detener, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré detenido el tráfico en la avenida. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional perfect

Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For detener, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría detenido el coche en el control con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él detenga al ladrón en la calle. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él detuviera la obra por la lluvia, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Detén el tráfico en la avenida! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of tener, with changes in the present, the preterite (the -uv- stem), the future and conditional, and the subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than applying the regular endings. For detener, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No detengas el coche en el control. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with detener, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Detengo el coche en el control. — I stop the car at the checkpoint.
  2. Detiene al ladrón en la calle. — He/she stops the thief in the street.
  3. Ayer, detuve la obra por la lluvia. — Yesterday, I stopped the building work because of the rain.
  4. Antes, nosotros deteníamos el tráfico en la avenida. — Before, we used to stop the traffic on the avenue.
  5. Mañana, tú detendrás el coche en el control. — Tomorrow, you will stop the car at the checkpoint.
  6. Yo detendría al ladrón en la calle si tuviera más tiempo. — I would stop the thief in the street if I had more time.
  7. Él ha detenido la obra por la lluvia. — He has stopped the building work because of the rain.
  8. Espero que él detenga el tráfico en la avenida. — I hope he stops the traffic on the avenue.
  9. Yo ya había detenido el coche en el control antes de salir. — I had already stopped the car at the checkpoint before leaving.
  10. Ellos detenían al ladrón en la calle cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to stop the thief in the street when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo detiene el coche en el control. — Right: Yo detengo el coche en el control. — The person matters: detiene is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is detengo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo deteno al ladrón en la calle. — Right: Yo detengo al ladrón en la calle. — Detener is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so the stem changes in the present singular and third-person plural. The nosotros form keeps the original stem.
  3. Wrong: Treating detener and parar as identical in every context. — Right: Detener means to stop, to detain, while parar means to stop. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: detener fits sentences such as Detengo el coche en el control, while parar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy detenido al ladrón en la calle. — Right: Yo he detenido al ladrón en la calle. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he detenido, has detenido, ha detenido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo detuve la obra por la lluvia todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo detenía la obra por la lluvia todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (detenía), not the preterite. The preterite (detuve) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on detener. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el coche en el control. (present tense) A. detengo B. detienes C. detiene D. detenemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al ladrón en la calle. (preterite) A. detuve B. detuviste C. detuvieron D. detuvo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la obra por la lluvia. (imperfect) A. detenías B. detenían C. deteníamos D. detenía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ el tráfico en la avenida. (future) A. detendremos B. detendrás C. detendré D. detendrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ el coche en el control si pudiera. (conditional) A. detendría B. detendrías C. detendrían D. detengo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al ladrón en la calle. (present subjunctive) A. detengas B. detengamos C. detengo D. detenga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la obra por la lluvia, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. detuviéramos B. detengo C. detuviera D. detuvieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ el tráfico en la avenida. (present perfect) A. han detenido B. hemos detenido C. he detenido D. has detenido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ el coche en el control! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. detén B. detenga C. detengamos D. detened

  10. Which is the gerund of detener, used with estar for the progressive? A. detenido B. detengo C. detuve D. deteniendo

Answer key

  1. detengo — The first-person present of detener is detengo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. detuvo — The third-person preterite of detener is detuvo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. deteníamos — The nosotros imperfect of detener is deteníamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. detendrás — The second-person future of detener is detendrás.
  5. detendría — The first-person conditional of detener is detendría, the form for what would happen.
  6. detenga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of detener is detenga.
  7. detuviera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of detener is detuviera.
  8. hemos detenido — The nosotros present perfect of detener is hemos detenido: hemos + detenido.
  9. detén — The affirmative tú imperative of detener is detén.
  10. deteniendo — The gerund of detener is deteniendo: estoy deteniendo. The participle detenido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does detener mean in English?

Detener means to stop, to detain. It is used in everyday situations such as Detengo el coche en el control. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is detener regular or irregular?

Detener is a stem-changing verb (e → ie), so it is not fully regular: the stem changes in the present, the present subjunctive and the imperative, while nosotros and vosotros keep the original stem. The preterite and the imperfect are regular. Check the tables above for the exact forms in each tense.

What is the difference between detener and parar?

Detener means to stop, to detain, while parar means to stop. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use detener when you mean to stop, to detain, as in Detengo el coche en el control, and use parar for to stop. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I stop” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo detuve al ladrón en la calle. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo detenía la obra por la lluvia. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he detenido al ladrón en la calle.

How do I practise detener?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the detener examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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