play has begun

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "play has begun" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a performance, game, or activity is starting. Example: "As the lights dimmed, the audience knew that the play has begun."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

11.42am BST Play has begun.

The Guardian - Sport

Play has begun to do real work.

The New York Times - Magazine

The 2013 Tony Awards race for best actress in a play has begun.

The New York Times

Yet what always amazes me is the rapt concentration of the Globe audience once the play has begun.

The Telegraph

If you get hungry during the night, when play has begun, continue to avoid carbohydrates and stick with high protein foods.

The Guardian - Sport

If the old Android Market was a garage sale of the industry then the new Google Play has begun resembling a respectable department store.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The other team grabbed the ball out, and the night's play had begun.

The New York Times

And when I heard that, I knew the writing of my next play had begun.

The New York Times

The play had begun with a throw-in on the attacking left side, and some German defenders moved that way.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a little later when Mrs Sommers entered the theatre, the play had begun and the house seemed to her to be packed.

Independent

Terry Philpot writes: When I once saw Donald Sinden in farce, some stragglers took their seats in the front row after the play had begun.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "play has begun" to clearly and directly signal the start of an event, performance, or game. It's concise and easily understood.

Common error

Avoid using "play had begun" when you need to emphasize that the action started at a specific point in the past. Instead, use "play has begun" for general announcements of commencement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "play has begun" functions as an announcement or declaration, indicating that a specific activity is now in progress. This is supported by Ludwig's examples, which show its use in contexts ranging from sports to theatrical performances. According to Ludwig AI the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "play has begun" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that signals the commencement of an activity, performance, or game. As confirmed by Ludwig, it finds its place in News & Media, Academia, and Wiki. It serves to inform an audience that the event is starting, and should not be confused with the past perfect tense (play had begun). Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is appropriate across various contexts. It's important to avoid using play had begun when a general announcement of play commencement is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the game has started

Replaces "play" with "game", focusing on competitive events.

the performance has commenced

Uses a more formal term, "commenced", suitable for performances or events.

the show is underway

Emphasizes that the show is currently in progress.

the match is on

Specifically refers to a sporting match that is currently happening.

the competition has started

More focused way of saying things related to competitions have begun.

things are now in progress

Offers a broader, less specific way of saying something has started.

action is underway

Highlights the beginning of action or events.

let the games begin

An idiomatic expression indicating the beginning of something.

the curtain has risen

An idiomatic expression referring to the beginning of a theatrical performance.

the ball is rolling

An idiomatic way of indicating progress after commencement.

FAQs

How can I use "play has begun" in a sentence?

You can use "play has begun" to indicate the commencement of a game, theatrical performance, or any activity. For instance, "As the lights dimmed, the audience knew that the play has begun."

What can I say instead of "play has begun"?

Alternatives include "the game has started", "the performance has commenced", or "the show is underway", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "play has begun" or "play had begun"?

"Play has begun" is used to indicate the present perfect tense, meaning that play is active, whereas "play had begun" indicates the past perfect tense, meaning that it had begun at a certain point in the past and might not be active anymore.

Is "play has begun" formal or informal?

The phrase "play has begun" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.