Start with this new grammar lesson! Check out this guide on the “comenzar” conjugation in Spanish.

Comenzar is the Spanish verb for “to start, to commence, 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 “comenzar” 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)

“Comenzar” 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 Comenzar Conjugation / Presente

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

Yo	Comienzo
Tú	Comienzas
Él/Ella/Usted	Comienza
Nosotros	Comenzamos
Vosotros	Comenzáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comienzan

Examples:

1. Cada mañana, yo comienzo mi día con una taza de café. (Every morning, I start my day with a cup of coffee.)
2. Tú comienzas a trabajar a las ocho de la mañana. (You start work at eight in the morning.)
3. El profesor comienza la clase a las diez. (The teacher starts the class at ten.)

Simple Past Comenzar Conjugation / Pasado 

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

Yo	Comencé
Tú	Comenzaste
Él/Ella/Usted	Comenzó
Nosotros	Comenzamos
Vosotros	Comenzasteis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comenzaron

Examples:

1. Ellos comenzaron el proyecto la semana pasada. (They started the project last week.)
2. Tú comenzaste a estudiar para el examen ayer. (You started studying for the exam yesterday.)
3. Nosotros comenzamos el viaje a las seis de la mañana. (We started the trip at six in the morning.)

Imperfect Comenzar 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	Comenzaba
Tú	Comenzabas
Él/Ella/Usted	Comenzaba
Nosotros	Comenzábamos
Vosotros	Comenzabais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comenzaban

Examples:

1. Cuando era niño, yo comenzaba mis tareas después de la escuela. (When I was a child, I used to start my homework after school.)
2. Usted comenzaba a explicar el tema cuando se fue la luz. (You were starting to explain the topic when the power went out.)
3. Antes, vosotros comenzabais las reuniones a las siete de la tarde. (Before, you all used to start the meetings at seven in the evening.)

Present Continuous Comenzar 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 comenzando
Tú	Estás comenzando
Él/Ella/Usted	Está comenzando
Nosotros	Estamos comenzando
Vosotros	Estáis comenzando
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Están comenzando

Examples:

1. Estoy comenzando un nuevo curso de español esta semana. (I am starting a new Spanish course this week.)
2. Estáis comenzando a mejorar en el uso de los tiempos verbales. (You all are starting to improve in the use of verb tenses.)
3. Estás comenzando a entender las reglas del juego. (You are starting to understand the rules of the game.)

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	Comenzaré
Tú	Comenzarás
Él/Ella/Usted	Comenzará
Nosotros	Comenzaremos
Vosotros	Comenzaréis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comenzarán

Examples:

1. Mañana, tú comenzarás el nuevo proyecto en el trabajo. (Tomorrow, you will start the new project at work.)
2. Ella comenzará la conferencia a las diez de la mañana. (She will start the conference at ten in the morning.)
3. Ellos comenzarán las vacaciones la próxima semana. (They will start their vacation next week.)

Conditional Comenzar 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	Comenzaría
Tú	Comenzarías
Él/Ella/Usted	Comenzaría
Nosotros	Comenzaríamos
Vosotros	Comenzaríais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comenzarían

Examples:

1. Él comenzaría el curso si tuviera tiempo. (He would start the course if he had time.)
2. Nosotros comenzaríamos la reunión si todos estuvieran disponibles. (We would start the meeting if everyone were available.)
3. Ellos comenzarían el proyecto mañana si recibieran la aprobación. (They would start the project tomorrow if they received the approval.)

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 comenzado
Tú	Has comenzado
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha comenzado
Nosotros	Hemos comenzado
Vosotros	Habéis comenzado
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han comenzado

Examples:

1. Vosotros habéis comenzado a trabajar en el nuevo informe. (You all have started working on the new report.)
2. Ella ha comenzado a aprender un nuevo idioma. (She has started learning a new language.)
3. He comenzado a leer el libro que me recomendaste. (I have started reading the book you recommended.)

Past Perfect Comenzar 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 comenzado
Tú	Habías comenzado
Él/Ella/Usted	Había comenzado
Nosotros	Habíamos comenzado
Vosotros	Habíais comenzado
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habían comenzado

Examples:

1. Cuando llegué, ya habías comenzado a trabajar en el proyecto. (When I arrived, you had already started working on the project.)
2. Nosotros habíamos comenzado la reunión antes de que llegaran los demás. (We had started the meeting before the others arrived.)
3. Ella había comenzado a escribir el informe antes de que se fuera de vacaciones. (She had started writing the report before she went on vacation.)

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 comenzado
Tú	Habrás comenzado
Él/Ella/Usted	Habrá comenzado
Nosotros	Habremos comenzado
Vosotros	Habréis comenzado
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrán comenzado

Examples:

1. Para el próximo mes, habré comenzado mi nuevo trabajo. (By next month, I will have started my new job.)
2. Para cuando llegues, ya habrás comenzado el curso. (By the time you arrive, you will have already started the course.)
3. Para el viernes, ellos habrán comenzado las obras de renovación. (By Friday, they will have started the renovation work.)

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

Examples:

1. Nosotros habríamos comenzado el proyecto si hubiéramos tenido más tiempo. (We would have started the project if we had had more time.)
2. Vosotros habríais comenzado la tarea si no hubierais tenido otros compromisos. (You all would have started the task if you hadn’t had other commitments.)
3. Ella habría comenzado el curso si hubiera recibido el material a tiempo. (She would have started the course if she had received the material on time.)

“Comenzar” 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	Comience
Tú	Comiences
Él/Ella/Usted	Comience
Nosotros	Comencemos
Vosotros	Comencéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comiencen

Examples:

1. Es importante que ella comience el proyecto hoy. (It’s important that she starts the project today.)
2. Espero que tú comiences a estudiar para el examen. (I hope that you start studying for the exam.)
3. Queremos que ellos comiencen la reunión a tiempo. (We want them to start the meeting on time.)

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	Comenzara
Tú	Comenzaras
Él/Ella/Usted	Comenzara
Nosotros	Comenzáramos
Vosotros	Comenzarais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comenzaran

Examples:

1. Si tú comenzaras el proyecto ayer, ya estaría terminado. (If you had started the project yesterday, it would already be finished.)
2. Era importante que él comenzara el informe antes del viernes. (It was important that he started the report before Friday.)
3. Si nosotros comenzáramos la tarea ahora, podríamos terminarla a tiempo. (If we started the task now, we could finish it on time.)

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

Examples:

1. Es posible que yo haya comenzado el proyecto antes de que tú llegues. (It’s possible that I have started the project before you arrive.)
2. Dudo que usted haya comenzado el informe sin las instrucciones completas. (I doubt that you have started the report without the complete instructions.)
3. No estoy seguro de que hayáis comenzado la tarea correctamente. (I’m not sure that you all have started the task correctly.)

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

Examples:

1. Si ellos hubieran comenzado el trabajo antes, podrían haber terminado a tiempo. (If they had started the work earlier, they could have finished on time.)
2. Me habría alegrado si tú hubieras comenzado a estudiar antes del examen. (I would have been pleased if you had started studying before the exam.)
3. Si nosotros hubiéramos comenzado el proyecto en enero, ya estaría completo. (If we had started the project in January, it would already be finished.)

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

Examples:

1. Para el próximo mes, si todo sale bien, hubiéremos comenzado la fase final del proyecto. (By next month, if all goes well, we will have started the final phase of the project.)
2. Cuando llegues a la oficina, yo ya hubiere comenzado a trabajar en el informe. (When you arrive at the office, I will have already started working on the report.)
3. Para cuando terminen el curso, ellos ya hubieren comenzado a aplicar lo que aprendieron. (By the time they finish the course, they will have started applying what they learned.)

“Comenzar” 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	Comienza
Él/Ella/Usted	Comience
Nosotros	Comencemos
Vosotros	Comenzad
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Comiencen

Examples:

1. Comenzad la reunión sin mí, llegaré un poco tarde. (Start the meeting without me; I’ll arrive a bit late.)
2. Comienza a leer el libro antes de la clase. (Start reading the book before class.)
3. Comiencen el ejercicio cuando el profesor lo indique. (Start the exercise when the teacher indicates.)

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 comiences
Él/Ella/Usted	No comience
Nosotros	No comencemos
Vosotros	No comencéis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	No comiencen

Examples:

1. No comiences a trabajar sin haber leído las instrucciones. (Don’t start working without having read the instructions.)
2. No comencemos la reunión sin todos los miembros presentes. (Let’s not start the meeting without all the members present.)
3. No comience el proyecto hasta que recibamos la aprobación final. (Don’t start the project until we receive final approval.)

Become a Spanish Expert!

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

Learning the conjugation of “comenzar” 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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