it started to give

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it started to give" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where something begins to yield, break, or show signs of failure. Example: "As the pressure increased, the old bridge started to give, alarming the engineers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Rebecca grabbed him as it started to give way.

The New York Times

Humor was not The Weather Channel's intent when it started to give names to winter storms a few months ago.

The New York Times

"At first, I thought it was kind of funny, but then it started to give me a creepy feeling," the singer told the Los Angeles Times.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

When should it start to give back to its community?

The New York Times

Never mind the tactical headache that would occur if all those players were on the pitch at once, or the nauseating amount of advertising that would accompany it, it would be a fitting swansong for the aging European DP era of MLS, right before it starts to give way to more youthful and mobile teams.

The Guardian - Sport

Once you've built a savings pot, it starts to give you more savings options – if you haven't been saving for anything specific, you could then put your lump sum into a fixed-rate bond or an Isa, while you take out a fresh regular saver account for the following year.

The Guardian - Money

Someone should invent holiday dinnerware that sets itself on fire when the person eating from it starts to give unsolicited parenting advice or unsought political viewpoints.

Huffington Post

It is exceptionally sad and difficult to explain what plastic pollution in a gyre looks like, but when you see plastic films floating on the surface, two weeks from land under full sail, it starts to give you the cosmic heebie-geebies.

Huffington Post

"It starts to give you a clearer picture of what may be going on," Kropp says.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Now that's its profitable, there are no dramatic plans for expansion, although it recently started to give away a glossy consumer magazine called the Quarterly.

The Guardian

"It was started to give older, healthy people an alternative to nursing homes," said Ms. Marlin, who noted that the current residents range from 65 to 93 years old.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it started to give" when you want to describe the initial stage of something breaking, yielding, or failing, particularly when you want to emphasize the process rather than the completed action.

Common error

While acceptable, "it started to give" might sound less formal than alternatives like "it began to yield" or "it commenced to fail" in professional or academic writing. Consider the tone of your writing and audience when choosing this phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it started to give" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commencement of yielding or failing. Ludwig examples show its usage in describing physical objects weakening or abstract concepts losing their strength. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it started to give" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes the initial stage of something yielding, breaking, or failing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and examples show its usage across various contexts, from physical objects to abstract concepts. While generally neutral in tone, consider using more formal alternatives like "it began to yield" in professional or academic writing. This phrase is best suited for emphasizing the process of weakening rather than the completed failure. Remember that while versatile, more precise phrasing may be required to communicate the exact nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it began to yield

Changes 'started' to 'began' and 'give' to 'yield', indicating a formal weakening.

it started to fail

Substitutes 'give' with 'fail', generalizing the kind of yielding or failing.

it showed signs of giving way

Highlights preliminary evidence of imminent failure or collapse.

it began to break

Uses 'break' in place of 'give', directly indicating physical fracturing or failure.

it commenced to falter

Replaces 'started' with 'commenced' and 'give' with 'falter', suggesting a more pronounced failure.

it commenced to weaken

Emphasizes the gradual loss of strength or resistance.

it started to deteriorate

Replaces 'give' with 'deteriorate', specifying a degradation or decline in quality or condition.

it showed signs of collapse

Focuses on the visual evidence of failing, instead of the initial action.

it began to degrade

Similar to deteriorate, but implies a loss of integrity or function.

it began to crumble

Indicates a rapid and dramatic breakdown, often associated with structures.

FAQs

What does "it started to give" mean?

The phrase "it started to give" indicates the beginning of a process where something is yielding, breaking, or failing under pressure or stress.

How can I use "it started to give" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe physical objects: "As the pressure increased, the old bridge "it started to give"." Or to describe abstract concepts: "After a while, his resolve "it started to give"."

What are some alternatives to "it started to give"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "it began to yield", "it commenced to falter", or "it showed signs of collapse".

Is "it started to give" formal or informal?

The phrase "it started to give" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives exist for professional or academic writing.