Comenzar Conjugation: All Spanish Tenses

Comenzar (to begin, to start) is a very common verb and it is irregular: it has a double irregularity. First, the stem changes e>ie in the stressed forms (comienzo, comience); second, the z becomes c before e (comencé, comencemos). It follows the same pattern as empezar.

Indicative Tenses of Comenzar

Comenzar in the Present (Presente)

Habits, current facts and general truths: Las clases comienzan en septiembre (Classes begin in September).

Present tense rules →

Comenzar in the Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

Completed actions at a specific moment in the past: Ayer comencé un curso nuevo (Yesterday I started a new course).

Preterite rules →

Comenzar in the Present Perfect (Pretérito perfecto)

Past connected to the present: Hoy he comenzado a estudiar español (Today I have begun to study Spanish).

Present perfect rules →

Comenzar in the Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto)

Habitual or ongoing actions in the past: La función comenzaba siempre a las ocho (The show always started at eight).

Imperfect rules →

Comenzar in the Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

An action before another past action: Cuando llegué, la reunión ya había comenzado (When I arrived, the meeting had already started).

Past perfect rules →

Comenzar in the Future (Futuro simple)

Plans and predictions: El próximo lunes comenzaré el nuevo trabajo (Next Monday I will start the new job).

Future tense rules →

Comenzar in the Future Perfect (Futuro perfecto)

An action that will be completed in the future: Para enero ya habremos comenzado las obras (By January we will have started the works).

Future perfect rules →

Comenzar in the Conditional (Condicional simple)

Advice and hypothetical situations: Yo comenzaría por lo más fácil (I would start with the easiest part).

Conditional rules →

Comenzar in the Conditional Perfect (Condicional compuesto)

Hypotheses about the past: Habría comenzado antes, pero faltaban materiales (I would have started earlier, but materials were missing).

Conditional perfect rules →

Subjunctive Tenses of Comenzar

Present Subjunctive of Comenzar (Presente de subjuntivo)

Wishes, doubts and emotions: Espero que las clases comiencen pronto (I hope classes begin soon).

Present subjunctive rules →

Present Perfect Subjunctive of Comenzar (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

Evaluating a recent past action: Me alegra que hayas comenzado el tratamiento (I am glad you have started the treatment).

Perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperfect Subjunctive of Comenzar (Pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)

Hypothetical conditions: Si comenzaras hoy, terminarías a tiempo (If you started today, you would finish on time).

Imperfect subjunctive rules →

Past Perfect Subjunctive of Comenzar (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

Unreal hypotheses about the past: Si hubieras comenzado antes, ya estaría hecho (If you had started earlier, it would already be done).

Past perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperative of Comenzar

Affirmative Commands of Comenzar (Imperativo afirmativo)

Orders and requests: ¡Comienza ya, no esperes más! (Start now, don't wait any longer!)

Affirmative commands rules →

Negative Commands of Comenzar (Imperativo negativo)

Prohibitions and negative advice: No comiences sin leer las instrucciones (Don't start without reading the instructions).

Negative commands rules →

Expressions with Comenzar

• Comenzar de cero - to start from scratch
• Comenzar con buen pie - to get off to a good start
• Comenzar la casa por el tejado - to put the cart before the horse (literally: to begin the house from the roof)
• Para comenzar - to begin with, as a starting point