comenzar

Comenzar is a Spanish verb that means to begin or to start. It can be transitive, as in comenzar un proyecto, and in many contexts it can also be used with a following infinitive introduced by a, as in comenzar a hacer algo. In general, comenzar is commonly used in formal, written, or careful speech, while empezar is more frequent in everyday conversation.

Conjugation and forms: In the present indicative, comenzar is a stem-changing verb with e → ie, giving yo comienzo, tú comienzas, él comienza, nosotros comenzamos, vosotros comenzáis, ellos comienzan. Other tenses behave as a regular -ar verb, with notable forms such as the preterite: comencé, comenzaste, comenzó, comenzamos, comenzasteis, comenzaron; the past participle is comenzado, and the gerund is comenzando. The present subjunctive appears as comience, comiences, comience, comencemos, comencéis, comiencen.

Usage notes: Comenzar can take a direct object to denote starting something, as in “comenzar un proyecto,” or can be used with “a” + infinitive to express the onset of an action, as in “comenzar a estudiar” or “comenzó a llover.” The noun form “comienzo” is often used to refer to the beginning itself. In many Spanish varieties, “empezar” is preferred in colloquial speech, while “comenzar” may imply a more formal or literary tone.

See also: empezar, iniciar, arrancar, ponerse en marcha.