The Imperfect Tense of detenerse is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for example, Me detenía en cada esquina para mirar los escaparates. (I would stop at every corner to look at the store windows.)

Detenerse follows the standard conjugation pattern for verbs ending in -er in the Imperfect Tense, with the endings -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Detenerse (to stop) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):

The imperfect tense of detenerse is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, or to set the scene for another action.

Describing an ongoing action in the past: For example, Me detenía en cada esquina para mirar los escaparates. (I would stop at every corner to look at the shop windows.)

Describing a repeated action in the past: For example, De pequeño, me detenía a jugar en el parque cada tarde. (When I was little, I would stop to play in the park every afternoon.)

Setting the scene for another action: For example, Me detenía a pensar en mi vida cuando de repente sonó el teléfono. (I was stopping to think about my life when suddenly the phone rang.)

Describing a state or condition in the past: For example, El tráfico se detenía por completo durante las horas punta. (Traffic would come to a complete stop during rush hour.)

Expressing a habitual action in the past: For example, Siempre me detenía a saludar a mis vecinos cuando los veía. (I would always stop to greet my neighbors when I saw them.)

Examples

Examples of Detenerse in the Imperfect Tense

Cuando era niño, mi abuela se detenía a contarme historias antes de dormir. (When I was a child, my grandmother would stop to tell me stories before bed.)

El tren se detenía en cada estación para recoger pasajeros. (The train would stop at every station to pick up passengers.)

Siempre me detenía a admirar el atardecer cuando caminaba por el parque. (I would always stop to admire the sunset when walking through the park.)

Aunque tenía prisa, se detenía a saludar a sus vecinos. (Even though she was in a hurry, she would stop to greet her neighbors.)

En los semáforos, el conductor se detenía por completo antes de continuar. (At the traffic lights, the driver would come to a complete stop before continuing.)

Durante las vacaciones, nos deteníamos en cada pueblo pintoresco para explorar. (During the holidays, we would stop in every picturesque town to explore.)

Cada vez que se detenía a pensar en su futuro, se llenaba de esperanza. (Every time she would stop to think about her future, she would be filled with hope.)

El guía turístico se detenía a explicar los detalles de cada monumento. (The tour guide would stop to explain the details of each monument.)

Aunque estaba ocupado, se detenía a escuchar las preocupaciones de sus empleados. (Even though he was busy, he would stop to listen to his employees’ concerns.)

En las reuniones, me detenía a tomar notas detalladas. (During meetings, I would stop to take detailed notes.)

Cuando se detenían a disfrutar de la naturaleza, se sentían rejuvenecidos. (When they would stop to enjoy nature, they would feel rejuvenated.)

El artista se detenía a capturar cada detalle en su lienzo. (The artist would stop to capture every detail on his canvas.)

Aunque estaba cansado, se detenía a ayudar a los demás cuando podía. (Even though he was tired, he would stop to help others when he could.)

En las fiestas, nos deteníamos a bailar y disfrutar de la música. (At parties, we would stop to dance and enjoy the music.)

Cada vez que se detenía a leer un buen libro, se transportaba a otro mundo. (Every time she would stop to read a good book, she would be transported to another world.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Detenerse (to stop) in the Imperfect Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperfect tense is also known as the Past Imperfect, Descriptive Past, Past Progressive, or Imperfect Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Copretérito, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Descriptivo in Spanish.