Irregular verb
begin
/bɪˈɡɪn/
- Base
- begin
- Past simple
- began
- Past participle
- begun
Usage
began reports a finished event; begun always needs have/has/had and never stands alone.
Meaning
- to start doing or happening
Example
The lesson began at nine o'clock.
They began planning the trip in January.
Work has begun on the new bridge.
Teaching note
Begin changes its vowel twice: began is the simple past for a finished event, while begun is the participle used with have, has, or had.
Common mistake
A frequent error is ‘The meeting has began’, because began cannot follow the perfect auxiliary has.
Correction: Write ‘The meeting began at nine’ or ‘The meeting has begun’; the auxiliary signals that begun is required.