How to conjugate Comenzar in Spanish
To start, to commence, to begin Irregular Verb Top 100
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Indicative tenses of Comenzar
- Comenzar in the Indicative Present
- Comenzar in the Indicative Preterite
- Comenzar in the Indicative Imperfect
- Comenzar in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Comenzar in the Indicative Informal Future
- Comenzar in the Indicative Future
- Comenzar in the Indicative Conditional
- Comenzar in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Comenzar in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Comenzar in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Comenzar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Comenzar
- Imperative tenses of Comenzar
- Example sentences and usage
- Downloadable cheat sheet (PDF)
- Practice Comenzar conjugations (free mobile app)
Introduction
Comenzar is the Spanish verb for "to start, to commence, to begin". It is an irregular verb, and one of the most popular 100 Spanish verbs. Read on below to see how it is conjugated in the 18 major Spanish tenses!
Similar verbs to comenzar include: empezar, iniciar.
| Item | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Infinitive | comenzar | to start, to commence, to begin |
| Past participle | comenzado | started |
| Gerund | comenzando | starting |
Indicative Tenses of Comenzar
Comenzar in the Indicative Present
The Indicative Present of comenzar is used to talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths. For example, "comienzo el día con el desayuno", meaning "I start the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comienzo | I start |
| Tú | comienzas | you start |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comienza | s/he starts, you (formal) start |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comenzamos | we start |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzáis | you (plural) start |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comienzan | they start, you (plural formal) start |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Comenzar in the Indicative Preterite
The Indicative Preterite of comenzar is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, "comencé el día con el desayuno", meaning "I started the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comencé | I started |
| Tú | comenzaste | you started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comenzó | s/he started, you (formal) started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comenzamos | we started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzasteis | you (plural) started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comenzaron | they started, you (plural formal) started |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Comenzar in the Indicative Imperfect
The Indicative Imperfect of comenzar is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, "comenzaba el día con el desayuno", meaning "I used to start the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comenzaba | I used to start |
| Tú | comenzabas | you used to start |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comenzaba | s/he used to start, you (formal) used to start |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comenzábamos | we used to start |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzabais | you (plural) used to start |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comenzaban | they used to start, you (plural formal) used to start |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Present Continuous
The Indicative Present Continuous of comenzar is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, "estoy comenzando el día con el desayuno", meaning "I am starting the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | estoy comenzando | I am starting |
| Tú | estás comenzando | you are starting |
| Ella / Él / Usted | está comenzando | s/he is starting, you (formal) are starting |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | estamos comenzando | we are starting |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | estáis comenzando | you (plural) are starting |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | están comenzando | they are starting, you (plural formal) are starting |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Informal Future
The Indicative Informal Future of comenzar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, "voy a comenzar el día con el desayuno", meaning "I am going to start the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy a comenzar | I am going to start |
| Tú | vas a comenzar | you are going to start |
| Ella / Él / Usted | va a comenzar | s/he is going to start, you (formal) are going to start |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | vamos a comenzar | we are going to start |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | vais a comenzar | you (plural) are going to start |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | van a comenzar | they are going to start, you (plural formal) are going to start |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Future
The Indicative Future of comenzar is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, "comenzaré el día con el desayuno", meaning "I will start the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comenzaré | I will start |
| Tú | comenzarás | you will start |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comenzará | s/he will start, you (formal) will start |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comenzaremos | we will start |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzaréis | you (plural) will start |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comenzarán | they will start, you (plural formal) will start |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Conditional
The Indicative Conditional of comenzar is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, "comenzaría el día con el desayuno", meaning "I would start the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comenzaría | I would start |
| Tú | comenzarías | you would start |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comenzaría | s/he would start, you (formal) would start |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comenzaríamos | we would start |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzaríais | you (plural) would start |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comenzarían | they would start, you (plural formal) would start |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Present Perfect
The Indicative Present Perfect of comenzar is used to describe actions that started recently (in the past) and are still happening now or things that have been done recently. For example, "he comenzado el día con el desayuno", meaning "I have started the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | he comenzado | I have started |
| Tú | has comenzado | you have started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | ha comenzado | s/he has started, you (formal) have started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hemos comenzado | we have started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habéis comenzado | you (plural) have started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | han comenzado | they have started, you (plural formal) have started |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Past Perfect
The Indicative Past Perfect of comenzar is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, "había comenzado el día con el desayuno", meaning "I had started the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | había comenzado | I had started |
| Tú | habías comenzado | you had started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | había comenzado | s/he had started, you (formal) had started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habíamos comenzado | we had started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habíais comenzado | you (plural) had started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habían comenzado | they had started, you (plural formal) had started |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Future Perfect
The Indicative Future Perfect of comenzar is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, "habré comenzado el día con el desayuno", meaning "I will have started the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habré comenzado | I will have started |
| Tú | habrás comenzado | you will have started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habrá comenzado | s/he will have started, you (formal) will have started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habremos comenzado | we will have started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habréis comenzado | you (plural) will have started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrán comenzado | they will have started, you (plural formal) will have started |
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Comenzar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The Indicative Conditional Perfect of comenzar is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, "habría comenzado el día con el desayuno", meaning "I would have started the day with breakfast".
In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | habría comenzado | I would have started |
| Tú | habrías comenzado | you would have started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | habría comenzado | s/he would have started, you (formal) would have started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | habríamos comenzado | we would have started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | habríais comenzado | you (plural) would have started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | habrían comenzado | they would have started, you (plural formal) would have started |
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Subjunctive Tenses of Comenzar
Comenzar in the Subjunctive Present
The Subjunctive Present is used to talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about. For example, "comience", meaning "I start".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comience | I start |
| Tú | comiences | you start |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comience | s/he starts, you (formal) start |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comencemos | we start |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comencéis | you (plural) start |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comiencen | they start, you (plural formal) start |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Comenzar in the Subjunctive Imperfect
The Subjunctive Imperfect is used to speak about unlikely or uncertain events in the past or to cast an opinion (emotional) about something that happened in the past. For example, "comenzara", meaning "I started".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comenzara | I started |
| Tú | comenzaras | you started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comenzara | s/he started, you (formal) started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comenzáramos | we started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzarais | you (plural) started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comenzaran | they started, you (plural formal) started |
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Comenzar in the Subjunctive Future
The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, "comenzare", meaning "I will start".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | comenzare | I will start |
| Tú | comenzares | you will start |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comenzare | s/he will start, you (formal) will start |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comenzáremos | we will start |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzareis | you (plural) will start |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comenzaren | they will start, you (plural formal) will start |
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Comenzar in the Subjunctive Present Perfect
The Subjunctive Present Perfect is used to describe past actions or events that are still connected to the present day and to speak about an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future. For example, "haya comenzado", meaning "I have started".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | haya comenzado | I have started |
| Tú | hayas comenzado | you have started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | haya comenzado | s/he has started, you (formal) have started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hayamos comenzado | we have started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hayáis comenzado | you (plural) have started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hayan comenzado | they have started, you (plural formal) have started |
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Comenzar in the Subjunctive Past Perfect
The Subjunctive Past Perfect is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that occurred before other actions/events in the past. For example, "hubiera comenzado", meaning "I had started".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera comenzado | I had started |
| Tú | hubieras comenzado | you had started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiera comenzado | s/he had started, you (formal) had started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéramos comenzado | we had started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubierais comenzado | you (plural) had started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieran comenzado | they had started, you (plural formal) had started |
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Comenzar in the Subjunctive Future Perfect
The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, "hubiere comenzado", meaning "I will have started".
In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere comenzado | I will have started |
| Tú | hubieres comenzado | you will have started |
| Ella / Él / Usted | hubiere comenzado | s/he will have started, you (formal) will have started |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | hubiéremos comenzado | we will have started |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | hubiereis comenzado | you (plural) will have started |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | hubieren comenzado | they will have started, you (plural formal) will have started |
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Imperative Tenses of Comenzar
Comenzar in the Imperative Affirmative
The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, "comience", meaning "(to you formal) start!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | comienza | (to you) start! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | comience | (to you formal) start! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | comencemos | let's start! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | comenzad | (to you plural) start! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | comiencen | (to you plural formal) start! |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Comenzar in the Imperative Negative
The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, "no comience", meaning "(to you formal) don't start!".
In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".
| Pronoun | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | - | - |
| Tú | no comiences | (to you) don't start! |
| Ella / Él / Usted | no comience | (to you formal) don't start! |
| Nosotras / Nosotros | no comencemos | let's not start! |
| Vosotras / Vosotros | no comencéis | (to you plural) don't start! |
| Ellas / Ellos / Ustedes | no comiencen | (to you plural formal) don't start! |
The red dot () above denotes an irregular conjugation.
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Example sentences and usage
- La ceremonia comenzó con su discurso. The ceremony began with his speech.
- Las vacaciones de verano comienzan el próximo lunes. Summer vacation begins next Monday.
- La vida comienza cuando uno paga impuestos. Life begins when you pay taxes.
- ¿Crees que comenzará la guerra? Do you believe war will start?
- Sería mejor que comenzaras. You'd better start now.
- ¿Cuándo comenzaste a estudiar inglés? When did you begin studying English?
- De repente comenzó a llover. Suddenly rain began to fall.
- La ceremonia comenzó con su discurso. The ceremony began with his speech.
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Downloadable cheat sheets
Download and print a cheat sheet of Comenzar Spanish conjugation tables in image or PDF format:
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Practice Comenzar conjugations (free mobile & web app)
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Want to explore other verb conjugations?
Why not check out Comer – to eat or see the complete list of verbs here.
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Comenzar: to start, to commence, to begin
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