Spanish conjugation explanation

Spelling change: -zar → -c-

<p>In Spanish spelling, the letter <span style="font-style: italic;">z</span> is almost never written before the vowels <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span>. To preserve the correct pronunciation (the soft sound /θ/ or /s/) when conjugating verbs ending in <strong style="font-style: italic;">-zar</strong>, a spelling change is required:</p>

<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">z</span> → <span class="green_emphasis"><strong>c</strong></span> (before <strong style="font-style: italic;">e</strong>)</p>

<p>This belongs to the common "CAR, GAR, ZAR" group of orthographic changes. You can review the other patterns here:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_orthograpic_change_car_qu/" target="_blank">-car → -qu-</a>

and

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_orthograpic_change_gar_gu/" target="_blank">-gar → -gu-</a>

.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">When does this change happen?</div>

<p>The change from <strong style="font-style: italic;">z</strong> to <span class="green_emphasis">c</span> occurs whenever the grammatical ending starts with <strong style="font-style: italic;">e</strong>. This affects the following tenses:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>1. The

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite Tense</a>

</strong></div>

<div>Only the first person singular (S/1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span>) is affected, as the ending is <span style="font-style: italic;">-é</span>.</div>

<blockquote>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/empezar/" title="Click to see conjugations for empezar" target="_blank">empezar</a>

→ yo empe<span class="green_emphasis">c</span>é</blockquote>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ayer <span class="green_emphasis">empecé</span> una dieta nueva. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Yesterday I started a new diet.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>2. The

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank">Present Subjunctive</a>

</strong></div>

<div>All forms (singular and plural) are affected because the subjunctive endings for <span style="font-style: italic;">-ar</span> verbs all begin with <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">-e, -es, -e, -emos, -éis, -en</span>).</div>

<blockquote>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/alcanzar/" title="Click to see conjugations for alcanzar" target="_blank">alcanzar</a>

→ que ellos alcan<span class="green_emphasis">c</span>en</blockquote>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Espero que <span class="green_emphasis">alcances</span> tus sueños. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I hope you reach your dreams.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>3. The

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank">Imperative Mood</a>

</strong></div>

<div>This affects the formal commands (<span style="font-style: italic;">usted/ustedes</span>), the <span style="font-style: italic;">nosotros</span> command, and all negative commands (e.g., <span style="font-style: italic;">¡no cruces!</span>), as these forms are derived from the subjunctive.</div>

<blockquote>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/cruzar/" title="Click to see conjugations for cruzar" target="_blank">cruzar</a>

→ ¡cru<span class="green_emphasis">c</span>e usted!</blockquote>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Por favor, no <span class="green_emphasis">crucen</span> la línea amarilla. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Please, do not cross the yellow line.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">List of Common Verbs</div>

<p>Many high-frequency Spanish verbs end in <strong style="font-style: italic;">-zar</strong> and follow this pattern. Click any verb below to view its full conjugation:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/empezar/" title="Click to see conjugations for empezar" target="_blank">empezar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to start/begin</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/comenzar/" title="Click to see conjugations for comenzar" target="_blank">comenzar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to start/begin</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/alcanzar/" title="Click to see conjugations for alcanzar" target="_blank">alcanzar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to reach/achieve</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/lanzar/" title="Click to see conjugations for lanzar" target="_blank">lanzar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to throw/launch</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/organizar/" title="Click to see conjugations for organizar" target="_blank">organizar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to organize</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/realizar/" title="Click to see conjugations for realizar" target="_blank">realizar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to perform/carry out</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/cruzar/" title="Click to see conjugations for cruzar" target="_blank">cruzar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to cross</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/abrazar/" title="Click to see conjugations for abrazar" target="_blank">abrazar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to hug/embrace</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/gozar/" title="Click to see conjugations for gozar" target="_blank">gozar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to enjoy</span>)</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/rechazar/" title="Click to see conjugations for rechazar" target="_blank">rechazar</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to reject</span>)</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjugation Tables</div>

<p>The following tables show the conjugation of

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/comenzar/" title="Click to see conjugations for comenzar" target="_blank">comenzar</a>

. The forms undergoing the <strong style="font-style: italic;">z → c</strong> spelling change are highlighted.</p>

<p><strong>Preterite Indicative</strong></p>

<p>Only the first person singular (<span style="font-style: italic;">yo</span>) has the spelling change.</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto simple</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comencé<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>comenzaste

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>comenzó

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>comenzamos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>comenzasteis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>comenzaron

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p><strong>Present Subjunctive</strong></p>

<p>All persons undergo the change because every ending starts with the vowel <strong style="font-style: italic;">e</strong>.</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/19/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Presente subjuntivo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comience<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comiences<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comience<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comencemos<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comencéis<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comiencen<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p><strong>Imperative (Affirmative)</strong></p>

<p>The change appears in the formal forms (<span style="font-style: italic;">usted, ustedes</span>) and the first person plural (<span style="font-style: italic;">nosotros</span>). The <span style="font-style: italic;">tú</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">vosotros</span> forms keep the <strong style="font-style: italic;">z</strong> because their endings begin with <strong style="font-style: italic;">a</strong>.</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/22/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperativo afirmativo</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">---</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(tú)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comienza<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(usted)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comience<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(nosotros)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comencemos<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(vosotros)

</span>comenzad

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

(ustedes)

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">comiencen<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>