comenzado
/co-men-ZAH-doh/
started
As a past participle, comenzado means 'started' (as part of a compound verb tense), like the journey marked by the starting flag.
comenzado(Past Participle)
started
?as part of a compound verb tense
,begun
?as part of a compound verb tense
commenced
?formal usage
📝 In Action
Ya hemos comenzado la clase de hoy.
A1We have already started today's class.
Ella había comenzado a leer el libro antes del viaje.
B1She had begun reading the book before the trip.
Si hubieras comenzado antes, terminarías a tiempo.
B2If you had started earlier, you would finish on time.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
To use 'comenzado' to talk about completed actions, pair it with the verb 'haber' (he, has, ha, hemos, etc.). The participle 'comenzado' never changes its ending, regardless of who is doing the action.
The 'AR' Rule
Verbs that end in -AR (like 'comenzar') always form their past participle by changing -AR to -ADO. This is a very predictable pattern!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Estar' Instead of 'Haber'
Mistake: "Yo estoy comenzado el trabajo."
Correction: Yo he comenzado el trabajo. (Remember: 'haber' is used for the action, 'estar' is used for location or temporary states.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Action vs. Description
If you are describing the action itself ('I have started'), use 'comenzado' with 'haber'. If you are describing the state of something ('The started project'), treat it as an adjective (see next definition).
When used as an adjective, comenzado means 'started,' describing a noun, such as this painting that has been started but is incomplete.
comenzado(Adjective)
started
?describing a noun
,underway
?in progress, initiated
commenced
?formal description
📝 In Action
El proyecto comenzado requiere mucha atención.
B1The started project requires a lot of attention.
La reunión estaba comenzada cuando llegamos.
B1The meeting was underway (started) when we arrived.
Las obras ya comenzadas no se pueden detener.
B2The works already started cannot be stopped.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Key
When 'comenzado' acts as an adjective, it must match the noun it describes. For a feminine noun like 'la fiesta', you must say 'la fiesta comenzada'.
Use with Ser/Estar
It often follows 'estar' to describe the resulting state ('The meeting is started/underway'), or 'ser' if you are describing a permanent characteristic or using the passive voice.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: comenzado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'comenzado' as part of a perfect tense?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'comenzado' and 'empezado'?
They mean exactly the same thing ('started' or 'begun'). 'Comenzado' is often considered slightly more formal or preferred in certain regions, but you can use them interchangeably in most contexts.
Why does 'comenzado' not change its ending when used with 'haber'?
When 'comenzado' works with 'haber' (to form tenses like 'I have started'), it acts like a fixed, unchanging block of action. Only the verb 'haber' changes to tell you who did the action. It only changes its ending when it is used as a descriptive adjective.