“Comenzar”, “terminar”, “dejar”, “seguir”, and “continuar haciendo” are five Spanish words/phrases that help us provide information about the progress of an action. Spanish speakers, often use it when they need to provide specific details about events or any kind of action. Of course, those aren’t their only uses.
We want to clarify that these verbs have no similarities with each other. But, they are very important in Spanish since most Spanish speakers use them in their daily lives and they can help you improve your speaking.
In this article, you will learn how and when you should use “Comenzar”, “terminar”, “dejar”, “seguir”, and “continuar haciendo”. So, if you are seeking to get better at Spanish, you must read on.
How to use ‘comenzar’
“Comenzar” is a verb we can use when we want to start or originate something. We can use the term in many contexts, as it can be a transitive or intransitive verb. We can also use it as a phrase, advice, or recommendation. On the other hand, we can limit that in its original concept, “comenzar” means to start something.
Let’s see a few examples below,
Podemos comenzar vendiendo solamente pescado.
We can start by selling only fish.
La construcción de la casa comienza hoy en la mañana.
The construction of the house begins this morning.
We can speak of “comenzar” when we are present at the beginning of a new stage, era, or something.
For example,
Comenzamos a vivir la primavera.
We begin to live in spring.
There are many ways we can use “comenzar”. Like when we do one thing before the other or when we want to send someone to do something immediately.
Here are some other examples,
Comienza las oraciones con mayúscula.
Start sentences with a capital letter.
Si no comienzas a limpiar tu cuarto ya, no vas a salir.
If you don’t start cleaning your room now, you’re not going to come out.
As you can see in the examples above, “comenzar” in Spanish is like “to start” or “to begin” in English.
How to use ‘terminar’
“Terminar” is the action of ending a situation, circumstance, problem, or relationship, among others. We can also say that “terminar” is the Spanish word for “to finish” in English. When we talk about “terminar”, it almost always goes with the preposition “de” in front of it as a connector to the other words. But, this is usually when the verb is in the present tense.
Here are some examples for a better understanding.
Termino de comer como en 10 minutos y después te llevo al centro comercial.
I’ll finish eating in about 10 minutes, and then I’ll take you to the mall.
Apaga la luz cuando termines de estudiar.
Turn off the light when you finish studying.
Raúl y Vanessa terminaron su relación ayer por la noche.
Ralph and Vanessa ended their relationship last night.
As you can see, in the last sentence we did not put the preposition “de” after the verb since it was in the past tense.
How to use ‘dejar’
“Dejar” is one of the most frequently used verbs in Spanish. When we talk about “dejar”, we mean letting go of something. Although, it can have other meanings such as abandoning, allowing, or lending. You can also use it when you do not agree or do not want something. This might be a bit complicated at first sight, but we promise you it’s not.
Let’s have a look at some examples to help you clear your mind.
Amelia dejó a su familia en Venezuela para irse a vivir sola a España.
Amelia left her family in Venezuela to go live alone in Spain.
Te dejo que me tengo que ir.
I’ll let you. I have to go.
Yo no dejo que pasen a mi casa con zapatos.
I don’t let them come into my house with shoes on.
¿Me prestas un vestido para el fin de semana?
Can you lend me a dress for the weekend?
Déjame en paz, quiero estar tranquilo.
Leave me alone, I want to be calm.
How to use ‘seguir’
When we talk about “seguir”, we are talking about following, chasing, or continuing. “Seguir”, unlike the others, is an irregular verb. This means that it does not follow the conjugation pattern like the other verbs ending in “-ir“.
Let’s see some examples of the verb “seguir” and its different uses.
Vamos a seguir intentando hasta conseguirlo.
We will keep trying until we get it.
Arturo nos siguió hasta el estacionamiento.
Arthur followed us to the parking lot.
Ella sigue enamorada de ti.
She is still in love with you.
Ellos seguirán en clases hasta que el profesor diga.
They will continue in class until the teacher says.
Ellos seguían jugando baloncesto cuando fui a verificar.
They were still playing basketball when I went to check.
How to use ‘continuar haciendo’
“Continuar haciendo” refers to when one remains or maintains in a situation, state, or place. It can also refer to when we are performing an action that has not finished yet. In that case, we can use it as an alternative to the present progressive.
Let’s see an example below.
Mi mamá está cocinando el almuerzo.
My mom is cooking lunch.
Mi mamá continúa haciendo el almuerzo.
My mom continues making lunch.
See? Both sentences have practically the same meaning but are structured differently. Although the best alternative is to use the gerund of “cocinar”, you can use “continuar haciendo” to express the same idea.
Now we will see other examples with “continuar haciendo”.
Quisiera continuar haciendo dropshipping, pienso que ese es el futuro.
I would like to continue dropshipping, I think that is the future.
No creo que podamos continuar haciendo esto, nos hace daño.
I don’t think we can continue doing this, it hurts us.
Si continuamos haciendo las ventas de donas todos los días, podremos irnos a la playa en vacaciones.
If we continue to make donut sales every day, we will be able to go to the beach on vacation.
Spanish verbs
Given all these points, we can say that “comenzar”, “terminar”, “dejar”, “seguir”, and “continuar haciendo” are not only very common verbs but also useful. Having a correct use of these verbs is important since these are words that you will use constantly.
Don’t forget that “seguir” is an irregular verb and you’ll probably first need to learn its conjugations before starting to use it.
Don’t hesitate to use these words when the right time comes, you now know what can help you achieve. And, improve your communication skills is key to getting better at speaking Spanish. So, start practicing and adding these verbs to your vocabulary as soon as possible.