it had begun

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it had begun" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that an action or event started in the past before another past action or event occurred. Example: "By the time we arrived, the meeting had begun, and we missed the opening remarks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The sumo association said it had begun its own investigation.

The New York Times

ABB said it had begun its search for a successor.

The New York Times

Iran announced last year that it had begun its own military cyberunit, and Brig.

The New York Times

The tour said it had begun a review process, per its antidoping policy.

The New York Times - Sports

It had begun on Dec. 8.

The New Yorker

"But it had begun to dream".

The New York Times - Books

Already it had begun to research her.

The New York Times - Arts

It had begun to snow again.

The New Yorker

It had begun with our muddy reception.

The New York Times

And it had begun to rain.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

By then it had begun to acquire a cult following.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it had begun" to clearly establish that an action or event started before another point in the past. This helps create a clear sequence of events in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "it began" when you need to emphasize that the action happened before another past event. "It began" can be ambiguous, while "it had begun" clearly indicates a sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it had begun" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It's used to indicate that an action or event started and was completed before another action or time in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

24%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it had begun" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase. As Ludwig highlights, it serves to clearly establish the sequence of past events, indicating that something started and finished before another point in time. Its usage is common across various contexts, including news, academia, and general conversation, making it a versatile and essential phrase for effective communication. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the intended timeline and avoids ambiguity with simpler past tenses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it had started

Simple substitution of "begun" with its direct synonym "started".

it had commenced

"Commenced" is a more formal synonym for "begun", suitable for more formal contexts.

it was underway

This phrase implies that the action was in progress, similar to having begun.

it was initiated

"Initiated" suggests a more formal or planned start.

it had been launched

Suitable when referring to the start of a project, campaign, or initiative.

it came into being

Describes the origin or creation of something.

it took off

Implies a rapid or successful start.

it got going

An informal way of saying something started.

its inception occurred

A formal and somewhat unusual way to describe the beginning of something.

the kickoff happened

Emphasizes the start of an event, often used in sports or project management.

FAQs

How do I use "it had begun" in a sentence?

Use "it had begun" to indicate that something started before a specific point in the past. For instance, "By the time we arrived, "it had begun" to rain" shows the rain started before our arrival.

What's a simple alternative to "it had begun"?

A simple alternative is "it had started". Both phrases convey the same meaning, but "it had begun" might sound slightly more formal depending on the context.

Is "it had begun" the same as "it began"?

While both refer to the start of something, "it had begun" (past perfect) indicates the action started and finished before another action in the past. "It began" (simple past) simply states when something started without necessarily referencing another past action.

When should I use "it had begun" versus "it was beginning"?

"It had begun" indicates a completed action before another point in time, while "it was beginning" suggests an action in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "It had begun to snow by the time we left" versus "It was beginning to snow as we left".