to begin, to commence
hablamos regular endingpienso stem changetengo irregularbusqué spelling change
Presente · What happens now or habitually
El carnaval comienza en febrero.
Carnival begins in February.
Pretérito · A completed action in the past
Comencé a bailar salsa a los quince años.
I started dancing salsa at fifteen.
Imperfecto · Ongoing or habitual past; "used to"
El espectáculo comenzaba a las nueve.
The show used to begin at nine.
Futuro · What will happen
Comenzaremos el viaje en La Habana.
We'll begin the trip in Havana.
Condicional · What would happen
Yo comenzaría con algo más fácil.
I'd start with something easier.
Pretérito perfecto · Has/have done
Las lluvias han comenzado temprano este año.
The rains have started early this year.
Pluscuamperfecto · Had done
La misa ya había comenzado cuando entramos.
Mass had already begun when we went in.
Futuro perfecto · Will have done
Para el domingo ya habrá comenzado la temporada de huracanes.
By Sunday hurricane season will have begun.
Condicional perfecto · Would have done
Habríamos comenzado a tiempo sin ese problema.
We would have started on time without that problem.
Presente de subjuntivo · Wishes, doubts, emotions about the present or future
Espero que comience pronto el concierto.
I hope the concert starts soon.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) · Hypotheticals and past wishes; the common form
El profesor pidió que comenzáramos el examen.
The teacher asked us to begin the exam.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) · Same meaning as -ra; more literary
Esperamos a que comenzasen a cantar.
We waited for them to start singing.
Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo · Subjunctive for something that has happened
No creo que haya comenzado la reunión.
I don't think the meeting has started.
Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo · Contrary-to-fact past: "if I had..."
Si hubiera comenzado más joven, tocaría mejor.
If I had started younger, I would play better.
Imperativo afirmativo · Commands: do it!
Comienza por leer las instrucciones.
Start by reading the instructions.
Imperativo negativo · Commands: don't do it!
Rarely used with this verb.