Introduction
This beginner guide explains three essential Spanish verbs used to talk about starting, finishing, and continuing: Empezar, Terminar, and Seguir. You will learn basic conjugations, everyday phrases, simple examples, and common mistakes so you can use these verbs in real situations like schedules, messages, menus, and short conversations.
- Why these verbs matter for beginners
- Quick overview of each verb
- Basic present tense conjugations (useful for beginners)
- Common phrases and simple situations
- Using these verbs with infinitives
- Short dialogues a beginner might use
- Vocabulary list for beginners
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Pronunciation tips for Latin American Spanish
- Practice activities for beginners
- Mini quiz for self-check
- Answers
- Everyday situational examples
- Beginner tips to remember
- Resources and next steps
- Conclusion
Why these verbs matter for beginners
All learners need ways to express beginning, ending, and continuation. Empezar, Terminar, and Seguir appear in timetables, class instructions, travel announcements, and casual chat. Mastering them helps you understand schedules, ask about plans, and give or follow simple directions.
Quick overview of each verb
Empezar means to begin or to start. It is commonly used for events, tasks, lessons, and processes.
Terminar means to finish or to end. Use it for completing actions, closing places, or talking about the end time of something.
Seguir means to follow or to continue. It can indicate physical following or continuing an action or state.
Basic present tense conjugations (useful for beginners)
Regular practice with present tense helps in everyday speech. Below are common first-person and third-person forms you will hear often.
Empezar (present): yo empiezo, tú empiezas, él/ella empieza, nosotros empezamos, ustedes empiezan
Empezar often has a stem change e to ie in singular forms: yo empiezo, tú empiezas, él empieza.
Terminar (present): yo termino, tú terminas, él/ella termina, nosotros terminamos, ustedes terminan
Terminar is a regular -ar verb without stem change in the present tense.
Seguir (present): yo sigo, tú sigues, él/ella sigue, nosotros seguimos, ustedes siguen
Seguir has a stem change and irregular yo form: yo sigo (g before o), tú sigues, él sigue.
Common phrases and simple situations
These practical examples show how beginners meet these verbs in real life: schedules, messages, and interactions.
Schedules and timetables
La clase empieza a las ocho.
La tienda termina a las nueve.
Meaning: The class starts at eight. The store closes at nine.
Short messages
Voy a empezar a estudiar ahora.
¿A qué hora terminas el trabajo?
Meaning: I’m going to start studying now. What time do you finish work?
Directions and actions
Seguir derecho hasta la esquina.
Seguir leyendo este libro.
Meaning: Go straight until the corner. Keep reading this book.
Using these verbs with infinitives
Beginners often need to attach an infinitive to express intention or continuation.
Empezar + a + infinitive
Examples:
Ella empieza a trabajar a las seis.
Voy a empezar a cocinar.
Meaning: She starts working at six. I’m going to start cooking.
Terminar + de + infinitive
Examples:
Acabo de terminar de comer.
Ellos terminan de estudiar a las cinco.
Meaning: I just finished eating. They finish studying at five.
Seguir + gerund (progressive) or + infinitive
Examples:
Ella sigue estudiando.
Sigo sin entender.
Meaning: She continues studying. I still don’t understand.
Short dialogues a beginner might use
Practice these mini-dialogues to feel confident in everyday settings.
At a class
Estudiante: ¿A qué hora empieza la clase?
Profesor: La clase empieza a las siete y media.
At work schedules
Compañero: ¿Cuándo terminas?
Tu amigo: Termino a las cinco.
On the street
Turista: ¿Cómo llego al museo?
Local: Sigue derecho y gira a la izquierda.
Vocabulary list for beginners
Basic nouns and phrases that pair well with these verbs.
la clase — class
el trabajo — work
la tienda — store
el partido — game/match
el viaje — trip
la lección — lesson
ahora — now
después — later
ya — already
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often mix prepositions or forget stem changes. Here are the usual traps.
Using the wrong preposition with infinitives
Error: Terminar a estudiar — incorrect
Correct: Terminar de + infinitive — Terminar de estudiar.
Forgetting the stem change in empezar
Error: Yo empiezo is correct, but learners sometimes say yo empieza — incorrect. Use yo empiezo, tú empiezas.
Mixing forms of seguir
Error: Using an infinitive when a gerund fits. For continuous actions, prefer the gerund: sigue estudiando rather than sigue estudiar.
Pronunciation tips for Latin American Spanish
Keep pronunciation simple and clear. Focus on vowel sounds and consonant clarity.
Emphasize vowels: a, e, i, o, u are pronounced clearly in words like empezar, terminar, seguir.
Soft g in seguir: the g in sigo is similar to the g in go but shorter; avoid adding an extra vowel.
Practice activities for beginners
Use short, repeatable exercises to build confidence.
1. Timetable exercise: Look at a simple daily schedule and write sentences using empieza, termina, sigue.
Example schedule: 8:00 clase, 12:00 almuerzo, 18:00 trabajo. Produce: La clase empieza a las ocho. El almuerzo termina a las doce.
2. Messaging practice: Write three short texts to a friend using each verb.
Examples you can send: Voy a empezar la tarea ahora.
¿A qué hora terminas?
No sigues en el trabajo, ¿verdad?
3. Role-play directions: Give or follow directions with sigue derecho, gira, sigue hasta.
Example prompt: You arrive at a station and ask where to go. Respond: Sigue derecho dos cuadras y gira a la derecha.
Mini quiz for self-check
Fill the blanks with the correct form: empiezo, terminan, sigue, terminar, empezar.
1. La película ______ a las ocho.
2. Nosotros ______ de cenar a las nueve.
3. Ella no ______ aquí, sigue en la reunión.
4. ¿Quieres ______ a leer conmigo?
5. Yo ______ mi tarea ahora.
Answers
1. empieza
2. terminamos or terminan depending on subject given; for nosotros: terminamos
3. está — but using the verb from this lesson: sigue (Ella sigue en la reunión)
4. empezar — preferrable form: ¿Quieres empezar a leer conmigo?
5. empiezo
Everyday situational examples
Menus and orders
El servicio de la cocina termina a las diez.
¿Cuándo termina la promoción?
Transportation
El tren empieza su recorrido a las seis de la mañana.
Por favor, siga las instrucciones del conductor.
Appointments and booking
Mi cita empieza a las tres.
La consulta termina a las tres y media.
Beginner tips to remember
Associate prepositions: Empezar usually pairs with a or nothing: empezar a + infinitive. Terminar pairs with de + infinitive. Seguir often takes a gerund for continuous actions.
Learn stem changes in small sets: memorizing yo and tú forms helps you recognize patterns.
Practice with real materials: read a simple timetable, listen to short announcements, or follow a short recipe to see these verbs in context.
Resources and next steps
Look for beginner lesson plans that include schedules, short dialogues, and simple instructions. Use flashcards for conjugations and create three daily sentences using each verb. Record yourself to compare pronunciation and build confidence.
Conclusion
Understanding Empezar, Terminar, and Seguir gives beginners essential tools for talking about time, actions, and directions. With simple conjugation patterns, practical phrases, and short daily practice, you will quickly recognize these verbs in schedules, messages, and conversations. Keep practicing with real examples and short role-plays to make these verbs part of your active Spanish.
