Detenerse Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb detenerse means to stop (oneself), and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Detenerse means to stop yourself, and it is used for stopping on a journey, pausing to think and stopping to look at something. It is the reflexive partner of detener, and it follows the same tener pattern: me detengo, me detuve, me detendré. Like every Spanish verb, detenerse 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 me detengo a descansar en el camino, and in the preterite you say me detuve un momento a pensar. 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: detenerse
  • English: to stop (oneself)
  • Verb type: irregular verb, reflexive, stem-changing (e → ie)
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: deteniendo
  • Past participle: detenido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + detenido)
  • Reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, os, se — one before every conjugated form, matching the person.
  • 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 detenerse, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Detenerse follows tener: the present is me detengo, the preterite is me detuve, and it is reflexive, so keep the pronoun.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for detenerse. 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 Pronoun Form
yo me detengo
tú te detienes
él/ella/Ud. se detiene
nosotros/as nos detenemos
vosotros/as os detenéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detienen

Preterite

Person Pronoun Form
yo me detuve
tú te detuviste
él/ella/Ud. se detuvo
nosotros/as nos detuvimos
vosotros/as os detuvisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detuvieron

Imperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me detenía
tú te detenías
él/ella/Ud. se detenía
nosotros/as nos deteníamos
vosotros/as os deteníais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detenían

Future

Person Pronoun Form
yo me detendré
tú te detendrás
él/ella/Ud. se detendrá
nosotros/as nos detendremos
vosotros/as os detendréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detendrán

Conditional

Person Pronoun Form
yo me detendría
tú te detendrías
él/ella/Ud. se detendría
nosotros/as nos detendríamos
vosotros/as os detendríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detendrían

Present perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me he detenido
tú te has detenido
él/ella/Ud. se ha detenido
nosotros/as nos hemos detenido
vosotros/as os habéis detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se han detenido

Pluperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me había detenido
tú te habías detenido
él/ella/Ud. se había detenido
nosotros/as nos habíamos detenido
vosotros/as os habíais detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habían detenido

Future perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habré detenido
tú te habrás detenido
él/ella/Ud. se habrá detenido
nosotros/as nos habremos detenido
vosotros/as os habréis detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrán detenido

Conditional perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habría detenido
tú te habrías detenido
él/ella/Ud. se habría detenido
nosotros/as nos habríamos detenido
vosotros/as os habríais detenido
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrían detenido

Present subjunctive

Person Pronoun Form
yo me detenga
tú te detengas
él/ella/Ud. se detenga
nosotros/as nos detengamos
vosotros/as os detengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detengan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Pronoun Form
yo me detuviera
tú te detuvieras
él/ella/Ud. se detuviera
nosotros/as nos detuviéramos
vosotros/as os detuvierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detuvieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te detén
él/ella/Ud. se detenga
nosotros/as nos detengamos
vosotros/as os detened
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detengan

Imperative (negative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te detengas
él/ella/Ud. se detenga
nosotros/as nos detengamos
vosotros/as os detengáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se detengan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund deteniendo with estar for the progressive: estoy deteniendo (or me estoy deteniendo for this reflexive verb)
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 detenerse, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Me detengo a descansar en el camino. 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 detenerse, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, me detuve a mirar el escaparate. 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 detenerse, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, me detenía un momento a pensar. 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 detenerse, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, me detendré en la plaza a esperar. 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 detenerse, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Me detendría a descansar en el camino 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 detenerse, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, me he detenido a mirar el escaparate. 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 detenerse, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me había detenido un momento a pensar 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 detenerse, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, me habré detenido en la plaza a esperar. 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 detenerse, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me habría detenido a descansar en el camino 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 detenerse, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él se detenga a mirar el escaparate. 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 detenerse, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él se detuviera un momento a pensar, 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 detenerse, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: Que se detenga en la plaza a esperar. 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 detenerse, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No te detengas a descansar en el camino. 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 detenerse, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Me detengo a descansar en el camino. — I stop to rest on the way.
  2. Se detiene a mirar el escaparate. — He/she stops to look at the shop window.
  3. Ayer, me detuve un momento a pensar. — Yesterday, I stopped for a moment to think.
  4. Antes, nosotros nos deteníamos en la plaza a esperar. — Before, we used to stop in the square to wait.
  5. Mañana, tú te detendrás a descansar en el camino. — Tomorrow, you will stop to rest on the way.
  6. Yo me detendría a mirar el escaparate si tuviera más tiempo. — I would stop to look at the shop window if I had more time.
  7. Él se ha detenido un momento a pensar. — He has stopped for a moment to think.
  8. Espero que él se detenga en la plaza a esperar. — I hope he stops in the square to wait.
  9. Yo ya me había detenido a descansar en el camino antes de salir. — I had already stopped to rest on the way before leaving.
  10. Ellos se detenían a mirar el escaparate cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to stop to look at the shop window when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo detengo a descansar en el camino. — Right: Yo me detengo a descansar en el camino. — Detenerse is reflexive, so the pronoun me is required: without it the verb means something else, or nothing at all.
  2. Wrong: Yo deteno a mirar el escaparate. — Right: Yo detengo a mirar el escaparate. — Detenerse 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 detenerse and pararse as identical in every context. — Right: Detenerse means to stop (oneself), while pararse means to stop, to stand. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: detenerse fits sentences such as Me detengo a descansar en el camino, while pararse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy detenido a mirar el escaparate. — Right: Yo he detenido a mirar el escaparate. — 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 un momento a pensar todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo detenía un momento a pensar 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 detenerse. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a descansar en el camino. (present tense) A. me detengo B. te detienes C. se detiene D. nos detenemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ a mirar el escaparate. (preterite) A. me detuve B. te detuviste C. se detuvieron D. se detuvo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ un momento a pensar. (imperfect) A. te detenías B. se detenían C. nos deteníamos D. me detenía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en la plaza a esperar. (future) A. nos detendremos B. te detendrás C. me detendré D. se detendrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a descansar en el camino si pudiera. (conditional) A. me detendría B. te detendrías C. se detendría D. se detendrían

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a mirar el escaparate. (present subjunctive) A. me detenga B. te detengas C. nos detengamos D. se detenga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ un momento a pensar, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. se detuviera B. nos detuviéramos C. me detuviera D. te detuvieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en la plaza a esperar. (present perfect) A. se han detenido B. nos hemos detenido C. me he detenido D. te has detenido

  9. Complete the command: No ___ a descansar en el camino. (negative imperative, tú) A. te detengas B. se detenga C. nos detengamos D. os detengáis

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

Answer key

  1. me detengo — The first-person present of detenerse is me detengo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. se detuvo — The third-person preterite of detenerse is se detuvo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. nos deteníamos — The nosotros imperfect of detenerse is nos deteníamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. te detendrás — The second-person future of detenerse is te detendrás.
  5. me detendría — The first-person conditional of detenerse is me detendría, the form for what would happen.
  6. se detenga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of detenerse is se detenga.
  7. me detuviera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of detenerse is me detuviera.
  8. nos hemos detenido — The nosotros present perfect of detenerse is nos hemos detenido: hemos + detenido.
  9. te detengas — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: te detengas.
  10. deteniendo — The gerund of detenerse is deteniendo: estoy deteniendo. The participle detenido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does detenerse mean in English?

Detenerse means to stop (oneself). It is used in everyday situations such as Me detengo a descansar en el camino. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is detenerse a reflexive verb?

Yes. Detenerse is reflexive, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun that matches the person: me, te, se, nos, os or se. For example, Me detengo a descansar en el camino and él se detiene a mirar el escaparate. If you leave the pronoun out, the verb changes meaning or stops making sense.

What is the difference between detenerse and pararse?

Detenerse means to stop (oneself), while pararse means to stop, to stand. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use detenerse when you mean to stop (oneself), as in Me detengo a descansar en el camino, and use pararse for to stop, to stand. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I stop (oneself)” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo me detuve a mirar el escaparate. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo me detenía un momento a pensar. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo me he detenido a mirar el escaparate.

How do I practise detenerse?

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

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