empezaba
em-peh-SAH-bah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Yo empezaba a cocinar cuando llegaste.
A2I was starting to cook when you arrived.
La clase siempre empezaba a las nueve.
A2The class always used to start at nine.
Ella empezaba su día con un café.
B1She used to start her day with a coffee.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Two-Way' Word
In this specific form, 'empezaba' can mean both 'I was starting' and 'he/she/it was starting.' You'll need to look at the rest of the sentence to know who is being talked about.
Describing Past Habits
Use this word when you want to describe a starting point that happened repeatedly in the past, like a schedule or a routine.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Started' vs. 'Was Starting'
Mistake: "Using 'empezó' to say 'it was starting for a long time.'"
Correction: Use 'empezaba' for ongoing or repeated actions; use 'empezó' for a one-time, completed start.
⭐ Usage Tips
Storytelling Trick
Use 'empezaba' to set the scene. If you say 'El sol empezaba a salir...' (The sun was starting to rise...), it sounds like the beginning of a story.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: empezaba
Question 1 of 1
If you want to say 'I used to start my day at 6 AM,' which word do you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'empezaba' mean 'I' or 'he'?
It can mean both! It is the form for 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (you, formal). Usually, the context of the conversation makes it clear who you mean.
What is the difference between 'empezaba' and 'comenzaba'?
They are almost identical and can be used interchangeably. 'Empezar' is slightly more common in everyday speech, while 'comenzar' can sound just a tiny bit more formal.