has not begun

USAGE SUMMARY

"has not begun" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something has not yet started or commenced. For example: "The party has not begun yet, so we still have some time before guests arrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Four years later, construction has not begun.

The New York Times - Sports

He has not begun to advertise.

The New York Times

But the draft has not begun.

The New York Times

Westlake has not begun a hostile tender offer.

The New York Times

Unlike Clinton, Sanders has not begun airing costly television advertisements.

The Washington Post

But it is as if Martin's season has not begun.

The New York Times - Sports

The opera has not begun, but the territory is charted.

The Guardian

That project has been approved in principle but work has not begun.

The New York Times

That plan was aided by financing from the federal stimulus program, although construction has not begun.

The New York Times - Science

HSBC has not begun to put a figure on its potential bill for Libor.

The New York Times

The company has not begun dismissals and will give employees 60 days' notice, Mr. Calagna said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has not begun" to clearly indicate that an action, process, or event is yet to commence. This phrasing is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, providing a straightforward way to express that something is pending.

Common error

Avoid using "has not begun" when you actually mean that something started but stopped or was interrupted. "Has not begun" strictly means something is yet to start, not that it started and then ceased.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has not begun" functions as a stative verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates that an action or event is yet to commence. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has not begun" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something is yet to start. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in news and media, indicating a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. Alternative phrases like "hasn't started" or "is yet to begin" can offer slight variations in tone or formality. A key consideration is to differentiate its meaning from situations where something started and then stopped. Being such a common expression, it's likely that it will be understood in most contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hasn't started

Contraction of 'has not', maintaining the same meaning with a more informal tone.

is yet to begin

Emphasizes the expectation or anticipation of a future start.

has not commenced

A more formal synonym, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

is still to start

Highlights that the action or event is outstanding and expected.

remains to be started

Focuses on the incomplete status and the need for initiation.

is not underway

Indicates the absence of current progress or activity.

is in the pre-start phase

Specifies a preparatory stage before the actual commencement.

is awaiting commencement

Highlights that the action is waiting or prepared to begin.

is in the initial stage

Implies that the project or process is at the very earliest phase, or almost not began.

is at zero hour

It suggests the action or the project has only been thought but the first actions haven't been executed.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "has not begun" in a more formal way?

For a more formal tone, consider using "has not commenced" or "is yet to begin". These alternatives are suitable for professional and academic contexts.

What's the difference between "has not begun" and "has not started"?

While both phrases convey that something hasn't started, "has not begun" is often perceived as slightly more formal than "hasn't started", which is a contraction and thus more informal.

When should I use "has not begun" instead of "is not starting"?

"Has not begun" indicates that something is not in the process of starting and hasn't started at all, whereas "is not starting" suggests a future intention that won't happen. The phrase "is not starting" is used when something was intended to start, but that won't happen.

Is "has not begun" grammatically correct?

Yes, "has not begun" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard present perfect negative construction and is widely used in English writing and speech.