began

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "began" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past tense form of the verb "begin". You can use it when you are talking about something that started in the past. For example: "Yesterday he began his journey to the North Pole."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"In my normal way, I probably would have said, 'I'll look into it.' " Costa said Obeid began to lobby him about AWH within a month of him becoming a minister and he had a conversation with Obeid in which Obeid suggested a corruption complaint may be made against Schott.

The Guardian

Japan's claim to commercial whaling as a cultural expression is surely a shaky one, since it only began large-scale whaling in the 20th century – but it was taught to them by European whalers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ayarci then pulled out a megaphone and began chanting in support of the law before she was eventually squeezed out.

The Guardian

The number of boarding groups began to resemble something like a caste system; "change fees," which have always been outrageous, grew higher (two hundred dollars for domestic, three hundred dollars for international), while baggage fees soared to as high as a hundred dollars.

The Economist

Students began a class boycott last Monday and, galvanised by a city-wide surge in support, staged a large-scale protest outside of the city government headquarters on Friday night.

The Guardian

Bobo's men began to take down the tents as he led us towards the water and onwards.

The Guardian - Travel

Channel 4 began with 1.7 million viewers (8%) from 9pm, rising to 2 million viewers (9.1%) for a Last Leg special with Adam Hills at 9.30pm and 1.9 million viewers (10%) for a Gogglebox election edition at 10pm.

The Guardian

Other so-called "core cities" now began to organise.

The Guardian

He was quite invested in this country but at some point he clearly began to feel terribly out of place here.

The Guardian

In his off-duty hours, he continued to paint and draw and new dealers began to take more interest in his work.

The Guardian - Arts

In the following year the town's population of about 4,000 dropped by nearly half, and as businesses and supermarkets closed, Qantas cut its services, and houses were left empty, the exodus began to take a toll on the mental health of those who stayed behind.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "began" to clearly indicate the starting point of an action, event, or process in the past. Ensure the context provides sufficient clarity about what initiated the action.

Common error

Avoid shifting verb tenses within the same sentence or paragraph when using "began". Stick to the past tense to maintain consistency and avoid confusing the reader. For example, avoid writing 'He began the project and now he finishes it'; instead, use 'He began the project and then he finished it'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "began" is as the past tense form of the verb "begin". It indicates the commencement of an action or state in the past. This is supported by Ludwig's numerous examples showing its use in various sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "began" is the past tense of "begin" and is used to indicate the start of an action or event in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usability. It is a versatile word, frequently found in news and media contexts. While alternatives like "commenced" or "initiated" may offer subtle differences in formality or connotation, "began" remains a clear and effective choice for indicating the commencement of something. Ensure consistent tense usage and consider the context to choose the most appropriate synonym for greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started

Most direct and common synonym for "began".

commenced

Formal synonym, suggesting a more ceremonial or official start.

initiated

Implies a more deliberate and planned start.

launched

Suggests a more energetic or public start.

originated

Focuses on the point of origin or creation.

arose

Implies a gradual or spontaneous start.

emerged

Suggests a start that involves becoming visible or known.

developed

Implies a gradual start and progression.

took off

Informal, suggesting a rapid or successful start.

got underway

Suggests a start that is part of a planned process.

FAQs

How do I use "began" in a sentence?

"Began" is the past tense of "begin", used to describe an action or state that started at a specific point in the past. For example, "The meeting began at 9 AM."

What's a formal alternative to "began"?

A more formal alternative to "began" is "commenced". It is often used in official or ceremonial contexts.

What can I say instead of "began" in a less formal setting?

In less formal situations, you can use "started" as a direct and simple synonym for "began".

Is there a difference between "began" and "initiated"?

"Began" is a general term for starting something. "Initiated" implies a more deliberate and planned start to an action or project.