Introduction
Learning how to choose the first step in a plan or a process is a common need for English-speaking Spanish learners. This article explains how to use empezar por to indicate the initial action, showing grammar, word order, verb forms, examples, and useful tips for everyday conversations.
- What does empezar por mean?
- Verb conjugation and placement
- When to use empezar por vs other options
- Common sentence patterns and word order
- Practical examples in everyday contexts
- How pronouns interact with empezar por
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Nuances and cultural notes
- Short list of useful phrases with empezar por
- Wrapping up usage tips
- Conclusion
What does empezar por mean?
Empezar por literally means to start by or to begin with. It is used when you want to say which action, step, or item comes first in a sequence. In English you might say start by doing something or begin with something. In Spanish, empezar por is followed by a verb in the infinitive or by a noun, depending on what you want to highlight.
Basic structure
The typical patterns are:
empezar por + infinitive
empezar por + noun
Examples:
Empezar por estudiar antes de hacer el ejercicio.
Empezar por la introducción es una buena idea.
Verb conjugation and placement
The verb empezar is regular in meaning but irregular in some present tense conjugations (e to ie stem change). When using empezar por, conjugate empezar according to the subject, and keep the verb after por in the infinitive if you are describing an action to start with.
Present tense examples with infinitive:
Yo empiezo por revisar los correos.
Tú empiezas por leer las instrucciones.
Él empieza por preguntar dudas.
Notice the stem change in the present: empezar becomes empiezo, empiezas, empieza, empezamos, empezáis, empiezan. In past tenses and other moods, conjugate accordingly and the infinitive after por remains unchanged.
Using other tenses
Past or future tenses work similarly. The conjugated form of empezar changes, but the structure por + infinitive stays the same.
Preterite:
Empezamos por limpiar la casa antes de salir.
Ella empezó por preparar los ingredientes.
Future:
Empezaré por reunir la información necesaria.
Ellos empezarán por llamar a los clientes.
When to use empezar por vs other options
Spanish offers several ways to talk about starting something. Understanding when to choose empezar por helps you sound natural.
Empezar por vs empezar a
Empezar a + infinitive describes the beginning of an action itself, focusing on the action that starts. Empezar por emphasizes the first step in a sequence or the thing you choose to do first.
Compare these two:
Empecé a leer el libro anoche. (I began reading the book last night; the action started.)
Empecé por leer el índice. (I started by reading the table of contents; indicating the first step.)
Empezar por vs comenzar con
Comenzar con is similar to empezar por and often interchangeable when introducing the first item or step. However, comenzar con is slightly more formal or neutral in tone, while empezar por is very common in spoken Spanish.
Examples:
Comenzamos con la presentación del proyecto.
Empezamos por la presentación del proyecto.
Common sentence patterns and word order
Here are common ways Spanish speakers use empezar por. Notice flexible placement depending on emphasis.
Subject + empezar (conjugated) + por + infinitive/noun
Empezamos por escribir la lista.
Ustedes empiezan por la parte más difícil.
Infinitive phrase first for emphasis + verb
Por costumbre, empiezan por saludar.
Por la mañana, empecé por preparar café.
Imperative commands with empezar por are also common when giving instructions:
Empieza por calentar el horno antes de mezclar los ingredientes.
Negative and question forms
To make a negative sentence, place no before the conjugated verb. For questions, use normal question word order or intonation.
No empecemos por eso ahora, mejor esperemos.
¿Por qué empiezas por esa tarea primero?
Practical examples in everyday contexts
Seeing empezar por in real-life situations helps you apply it correctly. Below are examples organized by context.
At work or school
When organizing tasks or lessons, use empezar por to set priorities.
Empezaremos por revisar el informe y luego discutiremos las correcciones.
Empieza por estudiar los conceptos básicos antes de avanzar.
Cooking and recipes
Recipes often list steps; use empezar por to indicate the first action.
Empieza por precalentar el horno a 180 grados.
Empezamos por picar las verduras y después las salteamos.
Travel and directions
When planning an itinerary or route, indicate the first stop with empezar por.
Empezaremos por visitar la catedral y luego iremos al museo.
Si llegas temprano, empieza por preguntar en la recepción.
Daily routines
Use empezar por to describe the first thing you do each day.
Siempre empiezo por tomar un vaso de agua al levantarme.
Hoy empecé por practicar 20 minutos de español.
How pronouns interact with empezar por
Direct and indirect object pronouns can appear before the conjugated verb or attached to an infinitive. With empezar por, pronouns that refer to the action are placed before the conjugated form or attached to the infinitive as usual.
Pronoun before conjugated empezar:
Me empiezo por acostumbrar a este horario. (less common)
Pronoun attached to infinitive (more natural):
Me empiezo por acostumbrar a este horario. (In practice, Spanish speakers would usually say Me estoy acostumbrando a este horario or Empecé por acostumbrarme a este horario.)
Better examples:
Voy a empezarlo por la parte más fácil. (Here, lo attaches to the infinitive.)
No la empieces por el final; empieza por el principio.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often confuse empezar por with empezar a or misplace pronouns. Here are tips to avoid errors.
1. Using empezar por when you mean to say you started an action, not the first step. If the focus is on the action beginning, use empezar a + infinitive. Example incorrect: Empecé por correr ayer. Better: Empecé a correr ayer.
2. Forgetting the infinitive after por when indicating the action. Incorrect: Empecé por quejarme. Better: Empecé por quejarme is acceptable if quejarme is the infinitive; be careful with verb forms. When using a noun, no infinitive is needed: Empecé por la introducción.
3. Wrong pronoun placement. Attach pronouns to infinitives or place them before conjugated verbs. Example correct: Voy a empezarlo mañana. Incorrect: Lo voy a empezar mañana can be acceptable but would usually be Lo empezaré mañana or Voy a empezarlo mañana.
Clear tip
If you want to emphasize the sequence, use empezar por. If you want to emphasize the action beginning at that moment, use empezar a.
Nuances and cultural notes
Native speakers use empezar por frequently in spoken and written Spanish to organize thoughts, give instructions, or set priorities. It conveys that the speaker has thought about the order and chosen a first step. This makes it useful in collaborative settings like work meetings, cooking, or planning trips.
In some regions, particularly in informal speech, people may drop por and say Empezar en or simply Empezar when context makes the sequence clear. Nevertheless, empezar por remains the safest choice when explicitly stating the first step.
Politeness and softening advice
When suggesting a first step politely, combine empezar por with conditional or subjunctive forms for softer language. For example, Podríamos empezar por revisar el presupuesto sounds more polite and collaborative than simple imperative forms.
Short list of useful phrases with empezar por
Here are handy phrases to memorize and use in conversation or writing.
Empieza por… (Start by…)
Empecé por… (I started by…)
Empezamos por… (We started by… / Let’s start by… depending on context)
Podríamos empezar por… (We could start by…)
Example sentences to practice reading
Podríamos empezar por identificar los objetivos del proyecto.
Ella empezó por pedir ayuda porque no sabía cómo continuar.
Antes de cocinar, siempre empiezo por lavar los ingredientes.
Para aprender el idioma, empieza por memorizar las palabras más útiles.
Wrapping up usage tips
Use empezar por when you want to make it clear which action or item comes first. Remember to conjugate empezar for the subject and keep the following verb in the infinitive when you describe an action. Choose empezar a if the emphasis is on the action’s beginning rather than the order. Practice with simple, real-world examples like recipes, schedules, and plans to internalize the pattern.
Conclusion
Empezar por is a practical, common phrase to indicate the first step in a sequence. By learning its structure, conjugation patterns, and differences from similar verbs like empezar a and comenzar con, you will communicate priorities and instructions more clearly in Spanish. Use the examples and tips above to build confidence and sound natural when choosing the first step.
