empezar
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Empezar has two changes: the stem e becomes ie when stressed (empiezo, empiezas, empieza...) and z becomes c before e (empecé in the preterite). So both a vowel diphthong and a spelling rule. Comen...
Conjugation
View endings (Guide)Modo
Subjuntivo
Subjuntivo
Tiempo
Presente de subjuntivo
Presente de subjuntivo
Click a tense to switch
Indicativo — Indicativo
Subjuntivo — Subjuntivo
Imperativo — Imperativo
More tenses are rolling out over time. · Full tables for some supported tenses are visible with Pro.
Formas impersonales
These are the non‑finite verb forms used in combinations and constructions.
- Infinitivo — empezar
- Infinitivo compuesto — haber empezado
- Gerundio — empezando
- Gerundio compuesto — habiendo empezado
- Participio — empezado
Key forms
yo
empiezo
tú
empiezas
él/ella
empieza
Use the present perfect for past actions that have a connection to the present or recent past.
Key forms
yo
he empezado
tú
has empezado
él/ella
ha empezado
Use the preterite to describe completed past actions with a clear beginning or end.
Key forms
yo
empecé
tú
empezaste
él/ella
empezó
Use the imperfect to describe ongoing, habitual, or background actions in the past.
Key forms
yo
empezaba
tú
empezabas
él/ella
empezaba
Use the pluperfect (pluscuamperfecto) for past actions completed before another past action.
Key forms
yo
había empezado
tú
habías empezado
él/ella
había empezado
Use for past-before-past; mainly literary.
Key forms
yo
hube empezado
tú
hubiste empezado
él/ella
hubo empezado
Use the future to express actions that will happen, predictions, or probability.
Key forms
yo
empezaré
tú
empezarás
él/ella
empezará
Use the conditional for hypothetical situations, polite requests, or future in the past.
Key forms
yo
empezaría
tú
empezarías
él/ella
empezaría
Use the future perfect for actions that will have been completed by a future time.
Key forms
yo
habré empezado
tú
habrás empezado
él/ella
habrá empezado
Use the conditional perfect for hypothetical past actions or actions that would have been completed.
Key forms
yo
habría empezado
tú
habrías empezado
él/ella
habría empezado
Use the present subjunctive for wishes, doubts, emotions, and after certain conjunctions.
Key forms
yo
empiece
tú
empieces
él/ella
empiece
Use for past actions with present relevance in subjunctive contexts.
Key forms
yo
haya empezado
tú
hayas empezado
él/ella
haya empezado
Use for hypothetical or reported past (e.g. Si viviera…).
Key forms
yo
empezara (empezase)
tú
empezaras (empezases)
él/ella
empezara (empezase)
Use for past-before-past in subjunctive contexts.
Key forms
yo
hubiera empezado (hubiese empezado)
tú
hubieras empezado (hubieses empezado)
él/ella
hubiera empezado (hubiese empezado)
Rare; legal/formal style.
Key forms
yo
empezare
tú
empezares
él/ella
empezare
Rare; future perfect in subjunctive contexts.
Key forms
yo
hubiere empezado
tú
hubieres empezado
él/ella
hubiere empezado
Affirmative imperative only. Negative imperative is available as a separate tense.
Key forms
yo
—
tú
empieza
él/ella
empiece
Negative commands: use No + form (e.g. No hables.).
Key forms
yo
—
tú
empieces
él/ella
empiece
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