comenzar
to begin/start
📚 comenzar is a stem-changing verb (e-ie). Learn more in our Stem-Changing Verbs Guide
Non-Conjugated Forms
comenzar
to begin/start
comenzando
Present Participle
comenzado
Used in perfect tenses
Indicative Mood
Used for statements of fact, certainty, and objective reality
| Person | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | comienzo | comencé | comenzaba | comenzaré | comenzaría |
| tú | comienzas | comenzaste | comenzabas | comenzarás | comenzarías |
| él/ella/usted | comienza | comenzó | comenzaba | comenzará | comenzaría |
| nosotros | comenzamos | comenzamos | comenzábamos | comenzaremos | comenzaríamos |
| vosotros | comenzáis | comenzasteis | comenzabais | comenzaréis | comenzaríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | comienzan | comenzaron | comenzaban | comenzarán | comenzarían |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Perfect Tenses
Compound tenses using auxiliary verb "haber" + past participle
| Person | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | he comenzado | había comenzado | habré comenzado | habría comenzado |
| tú | has comenzado | habías comenzado | habrás comenzado | habrías comenzado |
| él/ella/usted | ha comenzado | había comenzado | habrá comenzado | habría comenzado |
| nosotros | hemos comenzado | habíamos comenzado | habremos comenzado | habríamos comenzado |
| vosotros | habéis comenzado | habíais comenzado | habréis comenzado | habríais comenzado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han comenzado | habían comenzado | habrán comenzado | habrían comenzado |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Subjunctive Mood
Used for doubt, emotion, desire, possibility, and hypothetical situations
The imperfect subjunctive has two forms: -ra (more common in speech) and -se (more literary, common in Spain). Both are equally correct and interchangeable.
| Person | Literary / Spain | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | comience | comenzara | comenzase |
| tú | comiences | comenzaras | comenzases |
| él/ella/usted | comience | comenzara | comenzase |
| nosotros | comencemos | comenzáramos | comenzásemos |
| vosotros | comencéis | comenzarais | comenzaseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | comiencen | comenzaran | comenzasen |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Literary / Spain
Imperative Mood
Used for commands, requests, and instructions
| Person | |
|---|---|
| yo | - |
| tú | comienza |
| él/ella/usted | comienze |
| nosotros | comenzemos |
| vosotros | comenzad |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | comienzen |
| Quick Test |
🎯 Practice comenzar
Test your knowledge of comenzar conjugations across multiple tenses
Stem Change Pattern: e-ie
This verb follows the e-ie pattern. The stem change occurs in present indicative and present subjunctive, affecting the "boot" forms (yo, tú, él/ella/usted, ellos/ellas/ustedes). Some -ir verbs also have stem changes in preterite (él/ella and ellos/ellas forms).
Usage Tips
- Indicative: Use for facts, statements, and objective reality
- Subjunctive: Use after expressions of doubt, emotion, desire, or uncertainty
- Imperative: Use for direct commands and requests
- Perfect Tenses: Use to express actions completed relative to another time
Examples and Common Phrases
Examples
Common Phrases
Verb Information
Category
Time
Ending Type
-ar verb
Verb Type
Stem-changing verb
Importance Rank
#114 out of 100
Usage Tips
Remember the "Boot"
Stem-changing verbs change in a "boot" shape: yo, tú, él/ella, and ellos/ellas change, but nosotros and vosotros don't. Draw a boot around the changing forms to remember!
Practice Suggestion
Try creating your own sentences with this verb. Start with simple present tense sentences and gradually work up to more complex constructions.