Begun vs. Began: Understanding the Difference in Past Tense of Begin

When it comes to using the past tense in English, it can be challenging to know when to use “began” or “begun.” These two words are often confused, but they have different meanings and uses. Understanding the difference between them is crucial for effective communication in both spoken and written English.

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Begun vs. Began: The Basics

Understanding the Basics

When it comes to understanding the difference between “begun” and “began,” it’s important to start with the basics. In this section, we’ll define each of these terms and explain how they’re used in English.

Definition of ‘Begin’

“Begin” is a verb that means to start or initiate something. It’s often used in the present tense, as in “I begin my workday at 8 AM.” The verb can also be used in the future tense, as in “We will begin the project next week.” In both cases, “begin” is used to indicate the start of an action or event.

Let’s begin the meeting with a quick overview of the agenda.
Spring is the time when flowers begin to bloom and trees start to bud

Definition of ‘Begun’

“Begun” is the past participle form of “begin.” It’s used in combination with a helping verb, such as “have” or “had,” to indicate that an action has started in the past and is still ongoing. For example, “I have begun my work on the project” indicates that the speaker started working on the project in the past and is still working on it now.

I have begun to learn Spanish.
The concert had already begun when we arrived.

Definition of ‘Began’

“Began” is the simple past tense form of “begin.” It’s used to indicate that an action started and ended in the past. For example, “I began my work on the project yesterday” indicates that the speaker started working on the project yesterday and has since stopped.

I began my homework at 7 pm yesterday.
She began her speech with a joke.

Comparing ‘Began’ and ‘Begun’

To help you understand the differences between ‘began’ and ‘begun,’ here’s a quick comparison:

Began	Begun
Simple past tense	Past participle
Describes an action that started and ended in the past	Describes an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just ended
Does not need a helping verb	Often used with helping verbs like ‘has,’ ‘have,’ or ‘had’ to form perfect tenses

Remember, when using ‘begun,’ you must always use a helping verb to convey the correct tense. For example:

I have begun to write my novel. (present perfect)
She had begun to feel better before the doctor arrived. (past perfect)

Begun vs. Began: Examples in Sentences

Examples of Began

‘Began’ is the simple past tense of ‘begin’, which means to start or commence something. Here are some examples of ‘began’ in sentences:

She began to sing when the music started playing.
The construction of the new building began last week.
I began to feel tired after running for an hour.
We began our journey to the beach early in the morning.
She began to cry when she heard the news.
He began to feel better after taking the medicine.

Examples of Begun

‘Begun’ is the past participle of ‘begin’, which is used in the perfect tense, along with ‘has’, ‘have’, or ‘had’. Here are some examples of ‘begun’ in sentences:

She has begun to study for her exams.
The project has already begun, so we need to catch up.
I had begun to write my report before I got interrupted.
I have begun to learn Spanish.
The project has already begun, and we are making good progress.
She has begun to take her health seriously and has started exercising regularly.

Quiz and Practice with Answers

Now that we have discussed the differences between “began” and “begun”, it’s time to test your knowledge with some interactive exercises. Here are some practice questions to help you reinforce your understanding of these two words.

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence:”I ________ to read the book yesterday.”a) began b) begun
Answer: a) began
Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence:”The project had ________ before the deadline.”a) begin b) began c) begun
Answer: c) begun
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence:”We have ________ to see the new movie.”a) begin b) began c) begun
Answer: c) begun
Select the correct verb form to complete the sentence:”The company had ________ to expand its operations.”a) begin b) began c) begun
Answer: b) began
Choose the correct form of the verb to complete the sentence:”She ________ to feel better after taking the medicine.”a) begin b) began c) begun
Answer: b) began

We hope these exercises help you to better understand the differences between “began” and “begun”. Keep practicing and you’ll be a pro in no time!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ‘began’ and ‘begun’?

‘Began’ is the simple past tense of the verb ‘begin’, while ‘begun’ is the past participle. The main difference between the two is that ‘began’ is used to describe an action that started and ended in the past, while ‘begun’ is used to describe an action that started in the past but is still ongoing or has just ended.

What is the past tense of ‘begin’?

The past tense of ‘begin’ is ‘began’. It is used to describe an action that started and ended in the past.

What is the past participle of ‘begin’?

The past participle of ‘begin’ is ‘begun’. It is used to describe an action that started in the past but is still ongoing or has just ended.

How do you use ‘begun’ in a sentence?

‘Begun’ is used in a sentence with a helping verb, such as ‘have’, ‘has’, or ‘had’, to form perfect tenses. For example, “I have begun to study for the exam.” It can also be used as an adjective to modify a noun or pronoun, as in “We’ve only just begun the project.”

Is ‘began’ or ‘begun’ used for the past perfect tense of ‘begin’?

‘Begun’ is used for the past perfect tense of ‘begin’. For example, “By the time I arrived, they had already begun the meeting.”

What is the meaning of ‘begin’ and ‘begun’ in English grammar?

In English grammar, ‘begin’ and ‘begun’ are the base form and past participle of the verb ‘begin’. They are used to describe actions that start or have started in the past and can be used in various tenses to convey different meanings.

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