started, began
Tom dijo que esperaba que él llegara a casa antes de que empezara a llover.
Tom said he hoped he would get home before it started to rain.
Los invitados estaban en el jardín esperando que empezara la fiesta.
The guests were in the garden waiting for the party to start.
Takuya me dijo que empezara de una vez.
Takuya told me to start right away.
Le pedí que empezara de una vez.
I asked him to start right away.
Esperamos en el cine a que empezara la película.
We waited in the cinema for the movie to start.
Si hubiera visto la casa antes de que empezara a limpiar.
If only I had seen the house before I started cleaning.
— El botín (2026)
Tom tocaba el clarinete antes de que empezara a aprender a tocar el fagot.
Tom played the clarinet before he started learning to play the bassoon.