Breakdown of Ellas comienzan el nuevo negocio.
ellas
they (feminine)
nuevo
new
el negocio
the business
comenzar
to commence / to begin
Questions & Answers about Ellas comienzan el nuevo negocio.
Why is there an "ie" in comienzan? Shouldn't it be "comenzan"?
Comenzar (to begin) is a stem-changing verb. For most forms in the present tense, the e in the middle changes to ie. Since ellas is a "they" form, it gets the stem change, making it comienzan. The only forms that skip this change are the "we" and "you all" forms.
Is comenzar exactly the same as empezar?
Yes! Both verbs mean "to begin" or "to start," and they can be used interchangeably here. Just like comenzar, empezar is also an e to ie stem-changing verb, so you could also say ellas empiezan.
Wait, shouldn't the adjective go after the noun? Why is it nuevo negocio instead of negocio nuevo?
You are right that most adjectives go after the noun in Spanish. However, nuevo is a common exception. When placed before the noun, nuevo negocio means a business that is "new to them" (like a newly acquired company). If you put it after the noun (negocio nuevo), it emphasizes that the company is brand-new to the world.
Could I drop the word ellas and just say comienzan el nuevo negocio?
Yes, because the verb ending -an tells us it is a "they" or "you all" action. However, since comienzan could mean ellas (they, females), ellos (they, mixed/males), or ustedes (you all), keeping ellas makes it perfectly clear exactly who is starting the business.
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