empiezo
em-PYEH-so
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Empiezo mi dieta mañana.
A1I start my diet tomorrow.
Siempre empiezo el trabajo revisando mis correos.
A2I always begin work by checking my emails.
Si no empiezo a estudiar ahora, no terminaré a tiempo.
B1If I don't start studying now, I won't finish on time.
💡 Grammar Points
The E→IE Shoe Verb
In the present tense, the letter 'e' in the middle of the verb changes to 'ie' for all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. Think of it like a shoe shape in the conjugation chart!
Starting an Action
To say you are starting to do something, use the structure: 'empiezo a' + the action verb (in its base form). Example: 'Empiezo a correr' (I start running).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "Yo empezo."
Correction: Yo empiezo. Remember that 'e' turns into 'ie' when you use the 'yo' form in the present tense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Synonym Alert
The verb 'comenzar' means exactly the same thing. You can often use 'comienzo' instead of 'empiezo' without changing the meaning.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: empiezo
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the 'yo' form of the verb 'to start'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'empezar' have a 'z' in the infinitive but an 'c' in 'empecé'?
This is a spelling rule! When you conjugate verbs ending in -zar (like empezar) in the 'yo' preterite form, the 'z' must change to a 'c' before the letter 'e' to maintain the correct soft 's' sound. If it stayed 'z', it would sound different.