Learn Spanish (Latin America): Empecé a hacer el trámite ayer. - I started to do the paperwork yesterday.

The verb is empezar, but Spanish spelling rules generally don't allow the letter z before e or i. So, when we conjugate it in the "yo" (I) form of the past tense, the z changes to a c to keep the same sound. It becomes empecé instead of empezé.

Why do we need the word a before hacer?

In Spanish, the verb empezar (to start) requires the preposition a when it is followed by an infinitive (an unconjugated verb, like hacer). Whenever you want to say you "started doing" or "started to do" something, the pattern is always empezar a + action.

What exactly is a trámite?

It is a very common word in Latin America that refers to a bureaucratic procedure, a process, or official paperwork. You will hear it used for anything from renewing a passport to getting a form stamped at a bank. When you are running this kind of official errand, you are doing a trámite.

Why use the preterite past tense (empecé) here instead of the imperfect (empezaba)?