Comenzar imperfect conjugation
Comenzar in the imperfect: comenzaba, comenzabas, comenzaba, comenzábamos, comenzabais, comenzaban.
- to begin; to start
- stem-changing (e→ie)
- Participle: comenzado
- Gerund: comenzando
Imperfect imperfecto
| yo | comenzaba |
|---|---|
| tú | comenzabas |
| él/ella/usted | comenzaba |
| nosotros | comenzábamos |
| vosotros | comenzabais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | comenzaban |
How to use comenzar in the imperfect
The imperfect is regular: comenzaba, comenzabas, comenzábamos, comenzaban. It describes something that was beginning in the background (comenzaba a llover) or how things used to start: las clases comenzaban a las siete. Use it to set the scene, and the preterite for the actual moment something started. The nosotros form comenzábamos carries a written accent. In stories, comenzaba a + infinitive is a common way to describe a change that was slowly getting under way, such as weather or a feeling.
Examples
Comenzaba a llover cuando llegamos al estadio.
It was starting to rain when we got to the stadium.
En mi escuela, las clases comenzaban a las siete.
At my school, classes started at seven.
La empresa apenas comenzaba cuando entré.
The company was just getting started when I joined.
Quick check: comenzar in the imperfect
More comenzar tenses
- All comenzar tenses
- Comenzar present
- Comenzar preterite
- Comenzar future
- Comenzar conditional
- Comenzar present subjunctive
- Comenzar affirmative commands
Other verbs in the imperfect
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