Putting words together
Starting to do something
Empezar a + infinitive
Use empezar a when someone starts doing something.
The pattern
- Conjugated empezar + a + infinitive.
- In the present: empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empezamos, empezáis, empiezan.
Empiezo a trabajar a las nueve.
I start working at nine.
Why it works: Empiezo identifies who starts; a trabajar names the activity.
Notice the difference
Empezamos a preparar la cena.
We start preparing dinner.
Why it works: Empezamos keeps the e in its stem, and preparar stays an infinitive.
One thing to watch for
Keep the linking a even when empezar changes tense: empecé a trabajar.