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comencé

koh-men-SAY

Verb (conjugated form)A1regular (-ar) with a spelling change (z > c) in the preterite 'yo' form ar
I started?action initiated in the past,I began?action initiated in the past
Also:I set out to?when followed by 'a' + infinitive

Quick Reference

infinitivecomenzar
gerundcomenzando
past Participlecomenzado

📝 In Action

Comencé a estudiar español hace tres meses.

A1

I started studying Spanish three months ago.

Ayer, comencé mi nuevo proyecto de trabajo.

A2

Yesterday, I began my new work project.

Cuando vi la lluvia, comencé a correr hacia mi casa.

B1

When I saw the rain, I started running toward my house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • empecé (I started (from empezar))
  • inicié (I initiated)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • comencé a trabajar – I started working
  • comencé la semana – I started the week

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Yo' Past Tense Rule (Zar verbs)

The base verb is 'comenzar' (with a 'z'). To keep the 's' sound before the letter 'e' in the past tense ('yo' preterite), Spanish changes the 'z' to a 'c'. This is known as a spelling change verb.

Use of the Preterite Tense

You use 'comencé' to talk about an action that started and finished at a specific point in the past (e.g., 'yesterday,' 'last week').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Spelling Change

Mistake: "Yo 'comenzé' (Incorrect spelling)"

Correction: The correct spelling is 'yo comencé'. The 'z' must become a 'c' before the 'é' ending to maintain the pronunciation.

Starting an Activity

Mistake: "Comencé estudiar (Missing preposition)"

Correction: When you start an activity, you must include the preposition 'a': 'Comencé a estudiar' (I started to study).

⭐ Usage Tips

Easy Memory Trick

Think of the 'z' in 'comenzar' as turning into a 'c' only when it's immediately followed by 'e' or 'i' (like in the past tense 'comencé' or the present subjunctive 'comience').

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: comencé

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'comencé'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'comencé' and 'comenzaba'?

'Comencé' (preterite) means 'I started'—a single action that finished. 'Comenzaba' (imperfect) means 'I used to start' or 'I was starting'—it describes a repeated or ongoing action in the past, or sets the scene for another action.

Can I use 'empecé' instead of 'comencé'?

Yes! 'Empecé' (from 'empezar') means exactly the same thing ('I started') and is often slightly more common in everyday conversation. Both verbs are interchangeable.