Dive into our comprehensive guide to conjugating empezar, designed to make mastering Spanish verbs easier than ever.
Our exclusive audio recordings effortlessly embed conjugations into your memory, so you can learn faster and retain more.
Covering every tense—from the simple present to the elusive subjunctive—we provide clear explanations and interactive tools to accelerate your fluency.
Table of Contents
- Learn Faster with Audio
- Introduction to Empezar
- Indicative tenses of Empezar
- Empezar in the Indicative Present
- Empezar in the Indicative Preterite
- Empezar in the Indicative Imperfect
- Empezar in the Indicative Present Continuous
- Empezar in the Indicative Near Future
- Empezar in the Indicative Future
- Empezar in the Indicative Conditional
- Empezar in the Indicative Present Perfect
- Empezar in the Indicative Past Perfect
- Empezar in the Indicative Future Perfect
- Empezar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
- Subjunctive tenses of Empezar
- Imperative tenses of Empezar
Introduction to Empezar
“Empezar” is a Spanish verb meaning “to begin” or “to start.” It’s used in a wide variety of contexts, from describing the start of a project to talking about when an event will begin.
| Infinitive | Past Participle | Gerund |
|---|---|---|
| empezar | empezado | empezando |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
Example Sentences:
- Past Participle
La clase ya ha empezado. The class has already started. - Gerund
Estoy empezando a leer un libro nuevo. I am starting to read a new book.
Indicative tenses of Empezar
The indicative mood in Spanish is all about reality. When you use an indicative tense, you’re stating a fact, making an observation, or describing an event you believe to be true. This mood has a wide range of tenses that allow you to express yourself across different time frames, from the past to the present and into the future.
Empezar in the Indicative Present
The present indicative tense of empezar (to begin/start) is used to talk about actions happening now, habits, routines, and general truths.
For example: Empiezo a trabajar a las ocho. (I start work at eight o’clock.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empiezo |
| Tú | empiezas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empieza |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empezamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezáis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empiezan |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Preterite
The preterite tense of empezar is used to talk about completed actions in the past. Think of it as the tense for actions that have a clear beginning and end.
For example: Empecé mi tarea temprano. (I began my homework early.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empecé |
| Tú | empezaste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empezó |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empezamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezasteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empezaron |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Preterite Simple, Preterite Tense, or Past Definite in English, and as Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Simple, or Tiempo Pasado in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Imperfect
The imperfect tense of empezar takes us back to the past, but with a different perspective than the preterite. It describes actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past, with no specific end point.
For example, Empezaba a llover cuando salí. (It was starting to rain when I left.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empezaba |
| Tú | empezabas |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empezaba |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empezábamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezabais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empezaban |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Imperfect tense is also known as the Imperfect Tense, Past Imperfect, or Imperfective Past in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Tiempo Imperfecto in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Present Continuous
The present continuous tense of empezar describes an action that is in progress right now. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action.
For example: Estoy empezando a entender este concepto. (I am starting to understand this concept.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | estoy empezando |
| Tú | estás empezando |
| Él / Ella / Usted | está empezando |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | estamos empezando |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | estáis empezando |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | están empezando |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present Continuous tense is also known as the Present Progressive, Continuous Present, or Progressive Present in English, and as Presente Continuo, Presente Progresivo, or Progresivo de Indicativo in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Near Future
The near future tense of empezar expresses actions that will happen in the very near future. It often emphasizes the speaker’s intention or certainty.
For example: Voy a empezar una nueva dieta mañana. (I am going to start a new diet tomorrow.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | voy a empezar |
| Tú | vas a empezar |
| Él / Ella / Usted | va a empezar |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | vamos a empezar |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | vais a empezar |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | van a empezar |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Near Future tense is also known as the Immediate Future, Simple Future (colloquial use), or Informal Future in English, and as Futuro Próximo, Futuro Cercano, or Ir a + Infinitivo in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Future
The future tense of empezar expresses actions that will occur in the future. It’s a more formal way to talk about future plans or predictions.
For example: Empezará la película en cinco minutos. (The movie will begin in five minutes.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empezaré |
| Tú | empezarás |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empezará |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empezaremos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezaréis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empezarán |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Future tense is also known as the Simple Future, Future Simple, or Future Tense in English, and as Futuro Simple, Futuro de Indicativo, or Tiempo Futuro in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Conditional
The conditional tense of empezar is used to talk about hypothetical situations or actions that would happen under certain conditions. It often translates to “would begin” in English.
For example: Empezaría mi tarea ahora, pero estoy muy cansado. (I would start my homework now, but I am very tired.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empezaría |
| Tú | empezarías |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empezaría |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empezaríamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezaríais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empezarían |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Conditional tense is also known as the Conditional Tense, Present Conditional, or Simple Conditional in English, and as Condicional Simple, Condicional de Indicativo, or Tiempo Condicional in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Present Perfect
The present perfect tense of empezar is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or have a result that is relevant to the present.
For example: He empezado a aprender español. (I have started to learn Spanish.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | he empezado |
| Tú | has empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | ha empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hemos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habéis empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | han empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Present Perfect tense is also known as the Present Perfect, Perfect Present, or Compound Past in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto, Perfecto de Indicativo, or Presente Perfecto in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Past Perfect
The past perfect tense of empezar is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past.
For example: Había empezado a llover cuando llegamos a casa. (It had started to rain when we arrived home.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | había empezado |
| Tú | habías empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | había empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habíamos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habíais empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habían empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Past Perfect tense is also known as the Pluperfect, Past Perfect, or Compound Past Perfect in English, and as Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto, Pluscuamperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Perfecto in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Future Perfect
The future perfect tense of empezar describes an action that will be completed before a specific point in the future.
For example: Habré empezado mi nuevo trabajo para el próximo verano. (I will have started my new job by next summer.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | habré empezado |
| Tú | habrás empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habrá empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habremos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habréis empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habrán empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Future Perfect tense is also known as the Future Perfect or Compound Future in English, and as Futuro Perfecto, Perfecto de Futuro, or Futuro Compuesto in Spanish.
Empezar in the Indicative Conditional Perfect
The conditional perfect of empezar is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past, something that would have happened if a different condition had been met. It often translates to “would have started” in English.
For example: Habría empezado a estudiar antes, pero no tenía tiempo. (I would have started studying earlier, but I didn’t have time.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | habría empezado |
| Tú | habrías empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | habría empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | habríamos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | habríais empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | habrían empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Indicative Conditional Perfect tense is also known as the Perfect Conditional or Compound Conditional in English, and as Condicional Perfecto, Perfecto de Condicional, or Condicional Compuesto in Spanish.
Subjunctive tenses of Empezar
The subjunctive mood in Spanish might seem a bit mysterious at first, but it’s all about expressing subjectivity. Instead of stating cold, hard facts, you use the subjunctive to talk about desires, doubts, emotions, and possibilities. Think of it as the mood of uncertainty, where things are wished for, doubted, or influenced by opinions and feelings.
Empezar in the Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive of empezar is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and possibilities in the present or future. It often follows verbs or phrases that indicate subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Espero que empieces pronto. (I hope you begin soon.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empiece |
| Tú | empieces |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empiece |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empecemos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empecéis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empiecen |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Present tense is also known as the Present Subjunctive or Simple Present Subjunctive in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo or Subjuntivo Presente in Spanish.
Empezar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive of empezar is used to express wishes, doubts, emotions, and possibilities in the past, or in hypothetical situations. It often follows verbs or phrases that indicate subjectivity or uncertainty in the past tense.
For example: Dudaba que empezara a tiempo. (I doubted that he/she would start on time.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empezara |
| Tú | empezaras |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empezara |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empezáramos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezarais |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empezaran |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Imperfect tense is also known as the Imperfect Subjunctive or Past Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, or Subjuntivo Pasado in Spanish.
Empezar in the Future Subjunctive
The future subjunctive is rarely used in modern Spanish, but it’s good to be aware of it! It expresses a hypothetical action in the future with a high degree of uncertainty.
For example: Si empezare a llover, nos quedaremos en casa. (If it should start to rain, we will stay home.)
You’ll likely encounter this tense more in literature or legal texts than in everyday conversation.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | empezare |
| Tú | empezares |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empezare |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empezáremos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezareis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empezaren |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Future tense is also known as the Future Subjunctive or Simple Future Subjunctive in English, and as Futuro de Subjuntivo or Subjuntivo Futuro in Spanish.
Empezar in the Present Perfect Subjunctive
The present perfect subjunctive of empezar is used to express actions that are completed in relation to the present or future, but with some element of subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Me alegra que hayas empezado a estudiar. (I’m glad that you have started studying.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | haya empezado |
| Tú | hayas empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | haya empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hayamos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hayáis empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hayan empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Present Perfect tense is also known as the Perfect Subjunctive or Present Perfect Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo or Perfecto de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Empezar in the Past Perfect Subjunctive
The past perfect subjunctive of empezar is used to express actions that were completed before another action in the past, but with some element of subjectivity or uncertainty.
For example: Dudaba que hubiera empezado a tiempo. (I doubted that he/she had started on time.)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | hubiera empezado |
| Tú | hubieras empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hubiera empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hubiéramos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hubierais empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hubieran empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Past Perfect tense is also known as the Pluperfect Subjunctive, Past Perfect Subjunctive, or Compound Past Subjunctive in English, and as Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo or Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Empezar in the Future Perfect Subjunctive
Like the future subjunctive, the future perfect subjunctive is very rare in modern Spanish. It expresses a hypothetical action that will have been completed before a certain point in the future.
For example: Cuando hubiere empezado a trabajar, te llamaré. (When I have started working, I will call you.)
It’s more likely to be found in legal documents or older literature than in everyday speech. Most speakers would use other tenses to express this idea.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere empezado |
| Tú | hubieres empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hubiere empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hubiéremos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hubiereis empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hubieren empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Subjunctive Future Perfect tense is also known as the Future Perfect Subjunctive or Compound Future Subjunctive in English, and as Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo or Perfecto de Futuro de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Imperative tenses of Empezar
The imperative mood in Spanish is all about getting things done! It’s the mood of commands, requests, and instructions. When you use the imperative, you’re telling someone to do something, offering advice, or even expressing a strong wish. Want to tell someone to eat their vegetables, study harder, or be careful? The imperative is your go-to mood.
Empezar in the Imperative Affirmative
The affirmative imperative of empezar is used to give commands or instructions to start something.
For example: ¡Empieza a leer! (Start reading!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | empieza |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empiece |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empecemos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezad |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empiecen |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Imperative Affirmative tense is also known as the Positive Imperative or Affirmative Command in English, and as Imperativo Afirmativo or Mandato Afirmativo in Spanish.
Empezar in the Imperative Negative
The negative imperative of Empezar is used to give commands or instructions not to start something.
For example: ¡No empiecen a comer sin mí! (Don’t start eating without me!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | no empieces |
| Él / Ella / Usted | no empiece |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | no empecemos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | no empecéis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | no empiecen |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
The Imperative Negative tense is also known as the Negative Imperative or Negative Command in English, and as Imperativo Negativo or Mandato Negativo in Spanish.
Empezar in the Future Perfect Subjunctive
Like the future subjunctive, the future perfect subjunctive is very rare in modern Spanish. It expresses a hypothetical action that will have been completed before a certain point in the future.
For example: Cuando hubiere empezado a trabajar, te llamaré. (When I have started working, I will call you.)
It’s more likely to be found in legal documents or older literature than in everyday speech. Most speakers would use other tenses to express this idea.
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | hubiere empezado |
| Tú | hubieres empezado |
| Él / Ella / Usted | hubiere empezado |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | hubiéremos empezado |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | hubiereis empezado |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | hubieren empezado |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
{add audio here}The Subjunctive Future Perfect tense is also known as the Future Perfect Subjunctive or Compound Future Subjunctive in English, and as Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo or Perfecto de Futuro de Subjuntivo in Spanish.
Imperative tenses of Empezar
The imperative mood in Spanish is all about getting things done! It’s the mood of commands, requests, and instructions. When you use the imperative, you’re telling someone to do something, offering advice, or even expressing a strong wish. Want to tell someone to eat their vegetables, study harder, or be careful? The imperative is your go-to mood.
Empezar in the Imperative Affirmative
The affirmative imperative of empezar is used to give commands or instructions to start something.
For example: ¡Empieza a leer! (Start reading!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | empieza |
| Él / Ella / Usted | empiece |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | empecemos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | empezad |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | empiecen |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
{add audio here}The Imperative Affirmative tense is also known as the Positive Imperative or Affirmative Command in English, and as Imperativo Afirmativo or Mandato Afirmativo in Spanish.
Empezar in the Imperative Negative
The negative imperative of empezar is used to give commands or instructions not to start something.
For example: ¡No empieces a comer sin mí! (Don’t start eating without me!)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | — |
| Tú | no empieces |
| Él / Ella / Usted | no empiece |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | no empecemos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | no empecéis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | no empiecen |
Click play to learn these conjugations faster and more easily.
{add audio here}The Imperative Negative tense is also known as the Negative Imperative or Negative Command in English, and as Imperativo Negativo or Mandato Negativo in Spanish.