empezar Negative Imperative Conjugation
empezar — to start
Negative commands for empezar always use the present subjunctive forms: no empieces, no empiece, no empecemos.
empezar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone NOT to start an action.
Notes on empezar in the Negative Imperative
All forms use the 'c' spelling change (z to c) and the 'ie' stem change (except for nosotros and vosotros).
Example Sentences
No empieces a llorar, por favor.
Don't start crying, please.
tú
No empecéis el examen todavía.
Don't (you all) start the exam yet.
vosotros
No empecemos una pelea por esto.
Let's not start a fight over this.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no empieza' for the tú command.
Correct: no empieces
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive ending (-es for -ar verbs), not the indicative ending.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: empiezo
Empezar is a stem-changing verb where the 'e' becomes 'ie' in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.
Preterite
yo: empecé
Empezar has a spelling change in the 'yo' form (empecé) but is otherwise regular in the preterite.
Imperfect
yo: empezaba
Empezar is regular in the imperfect: empezaba, empezabas, empezaba, empezábamos, empezabais, empezaban.
Future
yo: empezaré
The future tense of empezar is completely regular: empezaré, empezarás, empezará, etc.
Conditional
yo: empezaría
The conditional of empezar is regular: empezaría, empezarías, empezaría, empezaríamos, empezaríais, empezarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: empiece
The present subjunctive of empezar features both a stem change (ie) and a spelling change (z to c).
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: empezara
The imperfect subjunctive of empezar is based on the 3rd person plural preterite: empezara, empezaras, empezara...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: empieza
The imperative uses 'empieza' for informal commands and 'empiece' for formal ones.