Empezar imperfect conjugation
Empezar in the imperfect: empezaba, empezabas, empezaba, empezábamos, empezabais, empezaban.
- to begin; to start
- stem-changing (e→ie)
- Participle: empezado
- Gerund: empezando
Imperfect imperfecto
| yo | empezaba |
|---|---|
| tú | empezabas |
| él/ella/usted | empezaba |
| nosotros | empezábamos |
| vosotros | empezabais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | empezaban |
How to use empezar in the imperfect
The imperfect of empezar is regular: empezaba, empezabas, empezaba, empezábamos, empezaban. Use it for repeated starts ("La jornada empezaba a las siete") and for something that was beginning as background: "Empezaba a llover cuando llegamos." It sets the scene for a main event in the preterite. There is no stem change in this tense.
Examples
Mi jornada empezaba a las seis de la mañana.
My workday used to start at six in the morning.
Empezaba a preocuparme cuando por fin llamaste.
I was starting to worry when you finally called.
Las reuniones siempre empezaban tarde.
The meetings always started late.
Quick check: empezar in the imperfect
More empezar tenses
- All empezar tenses
- Empezar present
- Empezar preterite
- Empezar future
- Empezar conditional
- Empezar present subjunctive
- Empezar affirmative commands
Other verbs in the imperfect
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