began building

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "began building" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the start of a construction or creation process in the past. Example: "Last year, the city began building a new community center to serve local residents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Slowly, he began building again.

The New York Times - Sports

He began building the first Lennox furnaces.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This bitterness began building in January.

The New York Times

There, in 1970, he began building Arcosanti.

The New York Times

The cousins began building instruments together in 2002.

The New York Times

Over time, the department began building up for the future.

The New York Times

Some companies even began building computers optimized for Bitcoin mining.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. DeCoster began building new egg farms in Maryland.

The New York Times

On October 4th, the three men began building another house.

The New Yorker

He began building homemade bombs and importing weapons from Tunisia.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Paul began building his organization in Nevada early.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process or project that started in the past, use "began building" to clearly indicate the commencement of construction or development. For example, "The company began building its reputation through consistent innovation".

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when describing the building process. Once you've established that something "began building", ensure that subsequent actions are consistent with the past tense. For example, don't follow "began building" with a present tense verb like "is creating".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "began building" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of a construction or development activity in the past. Ludwig's examples show its usage across various subjects and contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "began building" is a versatile and commonly used verb phrase to indicate the start of a construction or development process. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and adaptable to numerous contexts, primarily appearing in news and media, academic, and encyclopedia sources. While "began building" maintains a neutral tone, more formal alternatives like "commenced building" may suit specific situations. Remember to maintain consistent verb tense and consider context to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started constructing

Focuses more on the physical act of construction rather than a broader development.

commenced construction of

More formal, emphasizing the official commencement of a building project.

initiated the building of

Similar to commenced, highlighting the formal initiation of a building project.

undertook the construction of

Emphasizes the commitment and effort involved in the construction process.

laid the foundation for

Focuses on the initial stage of building, both literally and figuratively.

established the groundwork for

Highlights the preparatory steps taken before actual building begins.

pioneered the development of

Emphasizes innovation and being the first to develop something.

originated the creation of

Focuses on the initial idea and starting point of a project.

embarked on the building of

Highlights the beginning of a potentially long and involved process.

set about constructing

Suggests a determined and purposeful start to the construction process.

FAQs

How can I use "began building" in a sentence?

Use "began building" to describe the start of a construction or development process in the past. For example, "The developer "began building" the skyscraper in 2020".

What are some alternatives to "began building"?

Alternatives include "started constructing", "commenced building", or "initiated construction", depending on the context and level of formality.

Which is correct, "began building" or "begun building"?

"Began building" is the simple past tense, while "begun building" is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs such as "have". Therefore, "began building" is generally correct for simple past tense sentences.

Is there a difference between "began building" and "started building"?

While both are similar, "began building" might suggest a more formal or deliberate start, whereas "started building" is often more casual. The choice depends on the context.