have begun

USAGE SUMMARY

"have begun" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a past tense auxiliary verb to indicate that an action has started in the past and may still be continuing. For example, "We have begun our journey to the top of the mountain."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But we have begun.

The New York Times

Power cuts have begun.

The Economist

Evacuations have begun.

The New York Times

Lawsuits have begun.

The Economist

"The operations have begun.

The New York Times

Already, the comparisons have begun.

The Economist

It may already have begun.

The Economist

Actually, they have begun to.

The Economist

Cities have begun rationing water.

The New Yorker

Such reaction systems have begun attra.

Chemical Engineering Science

Already, repercussions have begun.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have begun" to clearly indicate that an action or process has started at some point in the past and may continue to the present. Avoid using it when the action is definitively completed, as the simple past tense might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "have begun" when the action is clearly finished. For example, instead of "The meeting have begun and finished", use "The meeting began and finished" or "The meeting has finished."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have begun" functions as a present perfect construction, combining the auxiliary verb "have" with the past participle "begun". Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for indicating an action started in the past and continuing to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have begun" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the start of an action or process with ongoing relevance. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and suitable for diverse contexts. It commonly appears in news media, scientific articles, and formal business communications. When writing, use "have begun" to clearly signal that something is underway, but avoid it when the action is completely finished. Remember, the auxiliary verb "have" agrees with plural subjects and the pronouns I, you, we and they.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have commenced

Replaces "begun" with a more formal synonym, "commenced".

have started

Uses the more common and simpler synonym "started" for "begun".

have initiated

Employs a slightly more formal term, "initiated", suggesting a deliberate start.

have undertaken

Indicates the start of a task or project, implying commitment and effort.

are underway

Shifts the focus to the ongoing nature of the action rather than the start.

have gotten underway

Combines "started" with the concept of being "underway", adding a sense of progress.

are now in progress

Highlights the current state of being "in progress" after the start.

have been launched

Implies a formal or significant start, like a project or campaign.

have set in motion

Suggests that something has been triggered or activated.

have taken the first step

Focuses on the initial action in a series of steps.

FAQs

How can I use "have begun" in a sentence?

You can use "have begun" to indicate that an action or process started in the past and may still be ongoing. For example, "The negotiations "have begun", but no agreement has been reached yet."

What are some alternatives to using "have begun"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "have started", "have commenced", or "are underway" instead of "have begun".

Is it correct to say "has begun" instead of "have begun"?

"Has begun" is used with singular subjects, while "have begun" is used with plural subjects or the pronoun "I", "you", "we", or "they". For example, "The project has begun" but "We "have begun" the project".

What is the difference between "have begun" and "began"?

"Have begun" is in the present perfect tense, indicating a past action with relevance to the present, while "began" is in the simple past tense, indicating a completed action in the past. Example: "They "have begun" preparations for the event" (and are still preparing) vs. "They began preparations yesterday" (the start is specified).