comenzó
koh-mehn-SOH
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
El concierto comenzó justo a tiempo.
A1The concert started right on time.
Ella comenzó a sentirse mejor después del descanso.
A2She began to feel better after the break.
Usted comenzó la tradición hace muchos años, ¿verdad?
B1You (formal) started the tradition many years ago, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Identifying the Speaker
The form 'comenzó' tells you that the action was performed by a single person ('he', 'she', or 'you formal'), or a single thing ('it').
Past Tense Usage (Preterite)
'Comenzó' describes an action that happened and was completed at a specific moment in the past, like 'The class started at nine.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
When to use 'comenzó' vs. 'comenzaba'
Mistake: "Using 'comenzó' for a repeated action: 'Cuando era niño, la escuela comenzó tarde.'"
Correction: Use 'comenzaba' (imperfect) for routines or descriptions: 'Cuando era niño, la escuela comenzaba tarde.' Use 'comenzó' only for a single, finished event.
⭐ Usage Tips
Starting Another Action
To say someone started to do something else, always follow 'comenzó' with the little word 'a', then the next verb: 'Comenzó a correr' (He started to run).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: comenzó
Question 1 of 2
Which Spanish pronoun requires the form 'comenzó'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'comenzó' irregular?
Yes and no. The base verb 'comenzar' is irregular because the 'e' changes to 'ie' in the present tense ('yo comienzo'). However, in the simple past tense form 'comenzó,' the irregularity (stem change) does not happen, making the form look regular.
What is the difference between 'comenzó' and 'empezó'?
They mean exactly the same thing ('started' or 'began'). 'Comenzar' is slightly more formal, but they are often used interchangeably in daily conversation.