começar

Começar is a Portuguese verb that translates to "to begin," "to start," or "to commence" in English. It is a fundamental verb used in a wide variety of contexts to indicate the initiation of an action, process, or event.

The verb começar is irregular in its conjugation, particularly in the present tense of the indicative mood. For example, the first-person singular present indicative form is "eu começo." In the preterite tense, it follows a more regular pattern, with forms like "eu comecei" (I began).

Começar can be used transitively, requiring a direct object, such as in "Comecei o trabalho" (I started the work). It can also be used intransitively, where the action of starting is implied without a specific object, as in "O filme vai começar" (The movie is going to start).

The verb is also frequently used with prepositions, most notably "a" and "de." "Começar a" is used to indicate the beginning of an action, often followed by an infinitive verb, e.g., "Ela começou a estudar" (She started to study). "Começar de" can sometimes indicate a starting point or origin, though this usage is less common than with "a."

In idiomatic expressions, "começar" can convey a sense of initiation or setting out on a new phase, such as "começar de novo" (to start over) or "começar do zero" (to start from scratch). Its versatility makes it an indispensable part of everyday Portuguese conversation and writing.