The Present Subjunctive of Entretener is used to express desires, doubts, or uncertainty about entertaining or keeping someone occupied. For example, Es importante que entretengas a los niños mientras estamos fuera. (It’s important that you entertain the children while we’re out.)

Entretener is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugation follows a unique pattern in certain tenses like the Present Subjunctive.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Entretener (to entertain) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Latin American Spanish):

The present subjunctive of entretener is used to express desires, doubts, emotions, and hypothetical situations.

To entertain or amuse: For example, Espero que la película te entretenga. (I hope the movie entertains you.)

To distract or occupy: For example, Necesito que algo me entretenga mientras espero. (I need something to entertain me while I wait.)

To delay or prolong (colloquial): For example, No me entretengas más con tus excusas. (Don’t entertain me any longer with your excuses.)

To keep someone’s attention (colloquial): For example, Ese programa no me entretiene para nada. (That show doesn’t entertain me at all.)

Examples

Examples of Entretener in the Subjunctive Mood

Es importante que los niños entretengan su mente con actividades educativas. (It’s important that children keep their minds engaged with educational activities.)

Ojalá que el nuevo programa de televisión entretenga a toda la familia. (Hopefully the new TV show entertains the whole family.)

Aunque el trabajo es estresante, es bueno que entretengamos nuestras mentes con actividades relajantes. (Although work is stressful, it’s good for us to keep our minds entertained with relaxing activities.)

El instructor sugirió que entretengamos a los niños con juegos educativos mientras esperamos. (The instructor suggested we keep the children entertained with educational games while we wait.)

Es recomendable que entretengas tu mente con rompecabezas y acertijos para mantenerla activa. (It’s advisable that you keep your mind entertained with puzzles and riddles to keep it active.)

Ojalá que los payasos entretengan a los niños en la fiesta con sus trucos graciosos. (Hopefully the clowns keep the children entertained at the party with their funny tricks.)

Es importante que los adultos mayores entretengan sus mentes con actividades que los estimulen. (It’s important that elderly adults keep their minds entertained with stimulating activities.)

Ojalá que el nuevo parque de diversiones entretenga a los visitantes con atracciones emocionantes. (Hopefully the new amusement park keeps visitors entertained with exciting rides.)

Para que los niños no se distraigan, el maestro sugirió que entretengamos sus mentes con juegos educativos. (So the children don’t get distracted, the teacher suggested we keep their minds entertained with educational games.)

Es recomendable que entretengas tu mente con rompecabezas y acertijos para mantenerla activa y alerta. (It’s advisable that you keep your mind entertained with puzzles and riddles to keep it active and alert.)

Ojalá que el nuevo programa de radio entretenga a los oyentes con contenido interesante y variado. (Hopefully the new radio show keeps listeners entertained with interesting and varied content.)

Es importante que los artistas entretengan al público con actuaciones cautivadoras y llenas de energía. (It’s important that artists keep the audience entertained with captivating and energetic performances.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Entretener (to entertain) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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

Synonyms

The Subjunctive mood is also known as the Simple Subjunctive, Subjunctive Present, or Present Subjunctive Mood in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Presente del Modo Subjuntivo, or Tiempo Presente del Subjuntivo in Spanish.