Breakdown of Es aconsejable que comencemos el proceso inmediatamente.
ser
to be
comenzar
to commence / to begin
que
that / than
aconsejable
advisable
el proceso
the process
inmediatamente
immediately
Questions & Answers about Es aconsejable que comencemos el proceso inmediatamente.
Why are we using comencemos instead of the regular present tense comenzamos?
The phrase es aconsejable que (it is advisable that) is an impersonal expression that states a recommendation. Whenever you use this kind of 'it is [adjective] that...' structure to influence an action, it triggers the subjunctive mood for the following verb. That is why we use the subjunctive comencemos instead of the normal present tense comenzamos.
The infinitive is comenzar. Why is comencemos spelled with a 'c' instead of a 'z'?
In Spanish, the letter 'z' changes to a 'c' whenever it comes right before an 'e'. Since the subjunctive ending for the 'we' form is -emos, the 'z' must change to a 'c' to follow Spanish spelling rules, giving us comencemos. You will also see this change in the past tense, like yo comencé (I began).
Wait, doesn't comenzar usually change its stem, like yo comienzo? Why isn't there an 'i' in comencemos?
You are right that comenzar is a stem-changing verb (the 'e' changes to 'ie'). However, in both the normal present tense and the present subjunctive, the nosotros (we) form does not take the stem change. So, just like it is comenzamos in the normal present, it stays as comencemos in the subjunctive without the extra 'i'.
Could I just say es aconsejable comenzar without the que?
Yes, you can! If you drop que, you must use the infinitive (the unconjugated verb). Es aconsejable comenzar means 'It is advisable to begin' (in general, for anyone). We use que plus the subjunctive here because we want to specify exactly who should begin the process: 'It is advisable that we begin' (que comencemos).
Learn Es aconsejable que comencemos el proceso inmediatamente and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free