begun asking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "begun asking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has started the action of asking something, typically in a past context. Example: "She had begun asking questions about the project before the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's a question that Canberra supporters have already begun asking.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr Baker's colleagues in Congress have begun asking him what could be done.

The Economist

And in recent years, veterans, too, have begun asking for help.

The New York Times

Members of Congress had begun asking questions about the operation after hearing from A.T.F.

The New York Times

But recently she has begun asking her 90-year-old mother about Ellis Island.

The New York Times

Pakistan recently has begun asking hard questions about who it is.

The New York Times

The Justice Department has already begun asking questions about the companies' relationships.

The New York Times

But the local news media had already begun asking questions by then.

The New York Times - Sports

A new constituency has recently begun asking for a bonus: board members themselves.

The New York Times

In recent days, Mr. Ford has begun asking some of them to meet with him regularly.

The New York Times

Now that was no longer the case, they had begun asking questions about their own identity.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "begun asking" when you want to emphasize the start of a questioning process, suggesting a shift from silence or inaction to active inquiry.

Common error

Avoid using "begin asking" in contexts where the action has already started; "begun asking" implies the action is already underway. Use "started asking" or "continued asking" if the asking is ongoing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "begun asking" functions as a verb phrase indicating the initiation of questioning. It describes the action of starting to ask questions, suggesting the commencement of an inquiry or investigation. As Ludwig AI explains, this expression is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "begun asking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes the commencement of an inquiry. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is acceptable in English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Academic contexts, it serves to report the initiation of questioning. When writing, remember to use "begun asking" when indicating the past perfect tense, showing an action that has started, and avoid using "begin asking" where the action is already underway. Alternative phrasing like "started to inquire" may offer stylistic variation. Understanding these nuances will help you effectively use "begun asking" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

started to inquire

Replaces "begun asking" with a synonym for 'ask' and implies initial action.

initiated questioning

Emphasizes the formal start of a questioning process.

commenced to ask

Uses a more formal verb, 'commenced', to indicate the start of asking.

have started asking

Uses the present perfect tense of start instead of begun.

started with inquiries

Focuses on inquiries as the starting point.

raised the initial questions

Highlights the act of bringing up questions at the beginning.

opened the line of questioning

Suggests starting a series of questions or an investigation.

started their questioning

Generalizes the start to the subject's actions.

began to question

Uses 'question' as a verb, slightly altering the structure.

instigated the queries

Conveys initiating a series of formal inquiries.

FAQs

How do I use "begun asking" in a sentence?

You can use "begun asking" to indicate the start of an inquiry. For example, "The journalists had "begun asking" tough questions about the company's finances".

What's the difference between "begun asking" and "started asking"?

While both phrases are similar, "begun asking" might imply a slightly more formal or deliberate initiation of questioning compared to "started asking".

Is it correct to say "begin asking" instead of "begun asking"?

The correct usage depends on the tense. "Begin asking" is used for the present or future tense, while "begun asking" is used for the past perfect tense to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance.

What can I say instead of "begun asking" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could use phrases like "initiated inquiries", "commenced questioning", or "raised the initial questions".