empezar conjugation
to begin/start
📚 empezar is a stem-changing verb (e-ie). Learn more in our Stem-Changing Verbs Guide
Empezar Non-Conjugated Forms
Infinitive
empezar
to begin/start
Gerund
empezando
Present Participle
Past Participle
empezado
Used in perfect tenses
Empezar Indicative Mood
Used for statements of fact, certainty, and objective reality
| Person | Present📖 | Preterite📖 | Imperfect📖 | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | empiezo | empecé | empezaba | empezaré | empezaría |
| tú | empiezas | empezaste | empezabas | empezarás | empezarías |
| él/ella/usted | empieza | empezó | empezaba | empezará | empezaría |
| nosotros | empezamos | empezamos | empezábamos | empezaremos | empezaríamos |
| vosotros | empezáis | empezasteis | empezabais | empezaréis | empezaríais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | empiezan | empezaron | empezaban | empezarán | empezarían |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Present📖
Preterite📖
Imperfect📖
Future
Conditional
Empezar Perfect Tenses
Compound tenses using auxiliary verb "haber" + past participle
| Person | Present Perfect📖 | Past Perfect📖 | Future Perfect📖 | Conditional Perfect📖 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | he empezado | había empezado | habré empezado | habría empezado |
| tú | has empezado | habías empezado | habrás empezado | habrías empezado |
| él/ella/usted | ha empezado | había empezado | habrá empezado | habría empezado |
| nosotros | hemos empezado | habíamos empezado | habremos empezado | habríamos empezado |
| vosotros | habéis empezado | habíais empezado | habréis empezado | habríais empezado |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han empezado | habían empezado | habrán empezado | habrían empezado |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Present Perfect📖
Past Perfect📖
Future Perfect📖
Conditional Perfect📖
Empezar 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 | Present Subj. | Imperf. Subj. (-ra) | Imperf. Subj. (-se) Literary / Spain |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | empiece | empezara | empezase |
| tú | empieces | empezaras | empezases |
| él/ella/usted | empiece | empezara | empezase |
| nosotros | empecemos | empezáramos | empezásemos |
| vosotros | empecéis | empezarais | empezaseis |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | empiecen | empezaran | empezasen |
| Quick Test | Quick Test | Quick Test |
Present Subj.
Imperf. Subj. (-ra)
Imperf. Subj. (-se)Literary / Spain
Empezar Imperative Mood
Used for commands, requests, and instructions
| Person | Imperative |
|---|---|
| yo | - |
| tú | empieza |
| él/ella/usted | empiece |
| nosotros | empecemos |
| vosotros | empezad |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | empiecen |
| Quick Test |
Imperative
🎯 Practice empezar
Test your knowledge of empezar 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
Frequency
Top 100 most common
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.