Translation
to stop, to detain, to arrest
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Word origin
From Latin detinere ('to hold back, to keep'), from de- plus tenere ('to hold'). It shares the tenere root with tener.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- detinere
- English cognates
- detain, detention
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular spanish-irregular conjugation. Pronouns: yo, tú, él/ella/ud., nos., vos., ellos/uds..
Indicative
| Person | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | detengo | detuve | detenía | detendré | detendría |
| tú | detienes | detuviste | detenías | detendrás | detendrías |
| él/ella/ud. | detiene | detuvo | detenía | detendrá | detendría |
| nos. | detenemos | detuvimos | deteníamos | detendremos | detendríamos |
| vos. | detenéis | detuvisteis | deteníais | detendréis | detendríais |
| ellos/uds. | detienen | detuvieron | detenían | detendrán | detendrían |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect (-ra) | Imperfect (-se) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | detenga | detuviera | detuviese |
| tú | detengas | detuvieras | detuvieses |
| él/ella/ud. | detenga | detuviera | detuviese |
| nos. | detengamos | detuviéramos | detuviésemos |
| vos. | detengáis | detuvierais | detuvieseis |
| ellos/uds. | detengan | detuvieran | detuviesen |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tú | detén |
| ud. | detenga |
| nosotros | detengamos |
| vosotros | detened |
| uds. | detengan |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- deteniendo
- Past participle
- detenido
Examples
.
The police want to arrest the thief near the bank.
, .
Stop the car, I want to get off here.
.
Nothing can stop the passing of time.
.
The guard detains anyone who enters without permission.
.
We stop for a while to rest on the way.
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Spanish · Free printables
detener: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Spanish word "detener" (to stop, to detain, to arrest): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 7, lesson 12: detener, fuerza, aprender and 7 more words.