Want to start learning? Get ready for the “empezar” conjugation in Spanish! 

Empezar is the Spanish verb for “to start, to begin”. It is an irregular verb, which means its conjugations do not always follow the standard patterns found in regular verbs.

In today’s blog post, you’ll learn all about the verb conjugation for “empezar” in the different modes of Indicative, Subjunctive, and Imperative!

Are you ready? Let’s start learning!

Read more: THE 150 MOST COMMON SPANISH VERBS (IRREGULAR + REGULAR)

“Empezar” Conjugation in Spanish Indicative / Indicativo

The indicative tense (el modo indicativo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The indicative mood is used to make factual statements, ask questions, and express opinions about actions or events that are considered real or certain.

Present Tense Empezar Conjugation / Presente

The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or to express general truths or habitual actions.

Yo	Empiezo
Tú	Empiezas
Él/Ella/Usted	Empieza
Nosotros	Empezamos
Vosotros	Empezáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empiezan

Examples:

1. Yo empiezo a estudiar a las ocho de la mañana. (I start studying at eight in the morning.)
2. Tú empiezas a trabajar muy temprano. (You start working very early.)
3. Ella empieza a cocinar la cena. (She starts cooking dinner.)

Simple Past Empezar Conjugation / Pasado 

The simple past tense (preterite) is used to describe completed actions in the past, often with specific time frames or events.

Yo	Empecé
Tú	Empezaste
Él/Ella/Usted	Empezó
Nosotros	Empezamos
Vosotros	Empezasteis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empezaron

Examples:

1. Ellos empezaron a correr cuando comenzó a llover. (They started running when it began to rain.)
2. Vosotros empezasteis la clase sin mí. (You all started the class without me.)
3. Yo empecé a leer el libro ayer. (I started reading the book yesterday.)

Imperfect Empezar Conjugation / Imperfecto

Spanish imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the stage or provide background information

Yo	Empezaba
Tú	Empezabas
Él/Ella/Usted	Empezaba
Nosotros	Empezábamos
Vosotros	Empezabais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empezaban

Examples:

1. Tú empezabas a aprender español cuando eras niño. (You were starting to learn Spanish when you were a child.)
2. Nosotros empezábamos a jugar al fútbol cada tarde. (We used to start playing soccer every afternoon.)
3. Vosotros empezabais a estudiar justo antes del examen. (You all used to start studying right before the exam.)

Present Continuous Empezar Conjugation / Presente Continuo

The present continuous tense (also known as “estar + gerundio”) is used to describe actions that are currently happening in the present moment or to express temporary situations.

Yo	Estoy empezando
Tú	Estás empezando
Él/Ella/Usted	Está empezando
Nosotros	Estamos empezando
Vosotros	Estáis empezando
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Están empezando

Examples:

1. Yo estoy empezando a entender la lección. (I am starting to understand the lesson.)
2. Ella está empezando a aprender a tocar la guitarra. (She is starting to learn how to play the guitar.)
3. Ellos están empezando a preparar la fiesta. (They are starting to prepare the party.)

Future Tense / Futuro

The Spanish future tense is used to express actions or events that will happen in the future, indicating something that has not yet occurred.

Yo	Empezaré
Tú	Empezarás
Él/Ella/Usted	Empezará
Nosotros	Empezaremos
Vosotros	Empezaréis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empezarán

Examples:

1. Tú empezarás tu nuevo trabajo la próxima semana. (You will start your new job next week.)
2. Él empezará a estudiar para el examen mañana. (He will start studying for the exam tomorrow.)
3. Ellos empezarán el proyecto en enero. (They will start the project in January.)

Conditional Empezar Conjugation / Condicional

The conditional tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions or events that would happen under certain conditions in the present or future.

Yo	Empezaría
Tú	Empezarías
Él/Ella/Usted	Empezaría
Nosotros	Empezaríamos
Vosotros	Empezaríais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empezarían

Examples:

1. Yo empezaría a correr si tuviera tiempo. (I would start running if I had time.)
2. Ella empezaría a estudiar más si tuviera un horario más flexible. (She would start studying more if she had a more flexible schedule.)
3. Tú empezarías a leer el libro si te interesara más. (You would start reading the book if you were more interested.)

Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto

Spanish present perfect tense (also known as “pretérito perfecto compuesto”) is used to express actions that have occurred in the past but have a connection to the present, emphasizing the result or consequences of those actions.

Yo	He empezando
Tú	Has empezando
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha empezando
Nosotros	Hemos empezando
Vosotros	Habéis empezando
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han empezando

Examples:

1. Ellos han empezado a trabajar en el nuevo proyecto. (They have started working on the new project.)
2. Vosotros habéis empezado a estudiar para el examen. (You all have started studying for the exam.)
3. Nosotros hemos empezado a planificar las vacaciones. (We have started planning the vacation.)

Past Perfect Empezar Conjugation / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish past perfect tense (also known as “pretérito pluscuamperfecto”) is used to describe actions that occurred before another past action or event, expressing a past-in-the-past relationship.

Yo	Había empezando
Tú	Habías empezando
Él/Ella/Usted	Había empezando
Nosotros	Habíamos empezando
Vosotros	Habíais empezando
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habían empezando

Examples:

1. Yo había empezado a leer el libro antes de irme de vacaciones. (I had started reading the book before I went on vacation.)
2. Tú habías empezado a estudiar cuando llegó el profesor. (You had started studying when the teacher arrived.)
3. Nosotros habíamos empezado a trabajar en el proyecto antes de la reunión. (We had started working on the project before the meeting.)

Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto

The Spanish future perfect tense is used to express actions that will have been completed in the future, indicating an action that will be finished before another specified future time or event.

Yo	Habré empezando
Tú	Habrás empezando
Él/Ella/Usted	Habrá empezando
Nosotros	Habremos empezando
Vosotros	Habréis empezando
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrán empezando

Examples:

1. Nosotros habremos empezado el trabajo para cuando llegues. (We will have started the work by the time you arrive.)
2. Él habrá empezado a estudiar antes de que te vayas. (He will have started studying before you leave.)
3. Ellos habrán empezado el proyecto para el próximo mes. (They will have started the project by next month.)

Conditional Perfect / Condicional Perfect

The conditional perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions that would have been completed in the past, indicating an action that would have happened prior to another past event.

Yo	Habría empezando
Tú	Habrías empezando
Él/Ella/Usted	Habría empezando
Nosotros	Habríamos empezando
Vosotros	Habríais empezando
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrían empezando

Examples:

1. Yo habría empezado el proyecto si hubiera tenido más tiempo. (I would have started the project if I had had more time.)
2. Usted habría empezado a trabajar en el informe si no hubiera sido por el retraso. (You would have started working on the report if it hadn’t been for the delay.)
3. Vosotros habríais empezado a preparar la presentación si hubierais recibido el aviso. (You all would have started preparing the presentation if you had received the notice.)

“Empezar” Conjugation in Spanish Subjunctive / Subjuntivo

The subjunctive tense (el modo subjuntivo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, emotion, and hypothetical situations.

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Present Tense / Presente

The Spanish subjunctive present tense is used to express subjective actions, desires, doubts, recommendations, or possibilities, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, necessity, or influence.

Yo	Empiece
Tú	Empieces
Él/Ella/Usted	Empiece
Nosotros	Empecemos
Vosotros	Empecéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empiecen

Examples:

1. Espero que yo empiece el curso con buen pie. (I hope that I start the course on the right foot.)
2. Es importante que él empiece a estudiar para el examen. (It is important that he starts studying for the exam.)
3. Es mejor que ustedes empiecen el proyecto cuanto antes. (It is better that you all start the project as soon as possible.)

Imperfect / Imperfecto

This tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, uncertainty, or unreal conditions.

Yo	Empezara
Tú	Empezaras
Él/Ella/Usted	Empezara
Nosotros	Empezáramos
Vosotros	Empezarais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empezaran

Examples:

1. Si tú empezaras a estudiar ahora, terminarías el examen a tiempo. (If you started studying now, you would finish the exam on time.)
2. Era necesario que él empezara a trabajar en el proyecto de inmediato. (It was necessary that he started working on the project immediately.)
3. Si nosotros empezáramos a preparar la cena, tendríamos tiempo para relajarnos. (If we started preparing dinner, we would have time to relax.)

Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto

Spanish subjunctive present perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the present with a connection to the past, indicating actions that would have been completed prior to the present moment.

Yo	Haya empezado
Tú	Hayas empezado
Él/Ella/Usted	Haya empezado
Nosotros	Hayamos empezado
Vosotros	Hayáis empezado
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hayan empezado

Examples:

1. Espero que ella haya empezado a preparar la presentación. (I hope that she has started preparing the presentation.)
2. Es bueno que nosotros hayamos empezado a trabajar en el proyecto. (It’s good that we have started working on the project.)
3. Me alegra que vosotros hayáis empezado el curso con entusiasmo. (I’m glad that you all have started the course with enthusiasm.)

Past Perfect / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish subjunctive past perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past with a connection to a previous past event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that past event.

Yo	Hubiera empezado
Tú	Hubieras empezado
Él/Ella/Usted	Hubiera empezado
Nosotros	Hubiéramos empezado
Vosotros	Hubierais empezado
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hubieran empezado

Examples:

1. Si ellos hubieran empezado antes, podrían haber terminado a tiempo. (If they had started earlier, they could have finished on time.)
2. Me habría gustado si él hubiera empezado el proyecto más pronto. (I would have liked it if he had started the project sooner.)
3. Nos habría sido más fácil si hubiéramos empezado a trabajar juntos desde el principio. (It would have been easier if we had started working together from the beginning.)

Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto

The future perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future with a connection to a future event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that future event.

Yo	Hubiere empezado
Tú	Hubieres empezado
Él/Ella/Usted	Hubiere empezado
Nosotros	Hubiéremos empezado
Vosotros	Hubiereis empezado
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hubieren empezado

Examples:

1. Para cuando llegues, espero que él hubiere empezado el proyecto. (By the time you arrive, I hope that he will have started the project.)
2. Si ella hubiere empezado antes, habríamos terminado a tiempo. (If she will have started earlier, we would have finished on time.)
3. Es probable que para entonces, nosotros hubiéremos empezado el trabajo. (It is likely that by then, we will have started the work.)

“Empezar” Conjugation in Spanish Imperative / Imperativo

The imperative tense (el modo imperativo) is one of the verb moods used to express commands, orders, or requests. It is used to tell someone what to do or what not to do.

Affirmative / Afirmativos

Spanish affirmative refers to the use of positive statements or expressions that indicate agreement, confirmation, or positive response to a question or statement.

Yo	–
Tú	Empieza
Él/Ella/Usted	Empiece
Nosotros	Empecemos
Vosotros	Empezad
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Empiecen

Examples:

1. Empieza a leer el libro ahora. (Start reading the book now.)
2. Vosotros empezad la reunión sin mí. (You all start the meeting without me.)
3. Empiecen a preparar la comida, por favor. (Start preparing the food, please.)

Negative / Negativos

Spanish negative refers to the use of negative statements or expressions that indicate negation, denial, or disagreement with a question or statement.

Yo	–
Tú	No empieces
Él/Ella/Usted	No empiece
Nosotros	No empecemos
Vosotros	No empecéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	No empiecen

Examples:

1. No empecemos a discutir sobre eso ahora. (Let’s not start arguing about that now.)
2. No empiecen la película sin mí. (Don’t start the movie without me.)
3. No empieces a comer antes de que lleguen todos. (Don’t start eating before everyone arrives.)

Become a Spanish Expert!

In conclusion, understanding the conjugation of the verb “Empezar” in Spanish is a fundamental step in mastering the language. 

Learning the conjugation of “Empezar” not only improves our ability to communicate effectively, but also allows us to immerse ourselves more deeply in the rich and diverse Spanish-speaking cultures. 

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