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Empezar Conditional Practice

Empezar (to start, to begin) in the conditional: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

14 exercisesStem-changing e→ieB1 – B2 level
IWhat to watch for

Empezar carries two irregularities elsewhere — the e→ie change of empiezo and the z→c spelling change of empecé and empiece — and neither of them appears in the conditional. The stem is the plain infinitive: empezaría, empezarías, empezaría, empezaríamos, empezaríais, empezarían, z intact throughout.

The structure to remember is empezar a + infinitive, which is how Spanish says to start doing something: empezaría a correr poco a poco. Without the a the verb takes a direct object instead: empezaría un libro nuevo. Both turn up constantly in advice, which is where the conditional lives.

IIConjugation
empezarConditional
yo
empezaría
empezarías
él / ella / usted
empezaría
nosotros
empezaríamos
vosotros
empezaríais
ellos / ustedes
empezarían
e→ie in the present (empiezo) plus a z→c spelling change before e: empecé, empiece.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: No stem change
Fill in the blank

_____ por la habitación pequeña, se termina antes. (empezar)

I would start with the small room, it gets finished sooner.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Asking for advice
Fill in the blank

¿Por dónde _____ tú una reforma así de grande? (empezar)

Where would you start with a renovation that big?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Future in the past
Fill in the blank

Dijo que _____ el curso de alemán en octubre. (empezar)

She said she would start the German course in October.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

_____ mucho antes si tuviéramos ya el material. (empezar)

We would start much earlier if we already had the materials.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Las clases _____ a las ocho con el horario nuevo. (empezar)

Classes would start at eight with the new timetable.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Él form
Fill in the blank

La película _____ media hora más tarde los domingos. (empezar)

The film would start half an hour later on Sundays.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Empezar a + infinitive
Fill in the blank

Yo _____ a correr poco a poco, sin forzar la rodilla. (empezar)

I would start running gradually, without straining the knee.

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

_____ por el final, que te conozco. (empezar)

You would start from the end, I know you too well.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Future in the past
Fill in the blank

Nos dijeron que _____ con las prácticas en mayo. (empezar)

They told us we would start the work placement in May.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Los albañiles _____ el lunes si llega el permiso a tiempo. (empezar)

The builders would start on Monday if the permit arrives in time.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Vosotros form
Fill in the blank

Vosotros _____ por lo más difícil, como siempre. (empezar)

You would start with the hardest part, as always.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Impersonal subject
Fill in the blank

Cualquiera _____ a dudar con tantas versiones distintas. (empezar)

Anyone would start having doubts with so many different versions.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Si clause
Fill in the blank

¿_____ de nuevo si pudieras volver diez años atrás? (empezar)

Would you start again if you could go back ten years?

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Yo form
Fill in the blank

Nunca _____ un libro sin haber terminado el anterior. (empezar)

I would never start a book without having finished the previous one.

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