A1 verb Neutral #111 most common

begin

/bɪˈɡɪn/

To start doing something or for an event to happen for the first time. It is often used to describe the first point of a process or activity.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I usually begin my day with a cup of coffee.

I normally start my morning by drinking coffee.

2

The ceremony will begin promptly at eight o'clock.

The official event will start exactly at 8:00 PM.

3

Let's begin the game before it gets dark!

Let us start playing the game now.

Word Family

Noun
beginning
Verb
begin
Adjective
beginning
Related
beginner
💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'B' in 'Begin' as the 'Big Bang'—the moment when everything started.

Quick Quiz

The class will ___ at 9:00 AM sharp.

Correct!

The correct answer is: begin

Examples

1

I usually begin my day with a cup of coffee.

everyday

I normally start my morning by drinking coffee.

2

The ceremony will begin promptly at eight o'clock.

formal

The official event will start exactly at 8:00 PM.

3

Let's begin the game before it gets dark!

informal

Let us start playing the game now.

4

Researchers begin the experiment by setting up the laboratory equipment.

academic

Scientists start their scientific test by preparing tools.

5

We need to begin the presentation by introducing the team members.

business

We must start the business talk by saying who is on the team.

Word Family

Noun
beginning
Verb
begin
Adjective
beginning
Related
beginner

Common Collocations

begin a journey to start a long trip
begin a conversation to start talking to someone
begin a career to start a professional job path
begin a new life to start living in a different way or place
begin at the bottom to start at the lowest level of an organization

Common Phrases

to begin with

in the first place or as the first reason

begin at the beginning

to start from the very first part of a story or process

charity begins at home

you should help your family before you help others

Often Confused With

begin vs start

'Start' is more common for machinery or quick actions; 'begin' is more formal and used for longer processes.

📝

Usage Notes

You can follow 'begin' with either an infinitive (to eat) or a gerund (eating) with no change in meaning. It is slightly more formal than the word 'start'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often forget that 'begin' is an irregular verb: the past simple is 'began' and the past participle is 'begun'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'B' in 'Begin' as the 'Big Bang'—the moment when everything started.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old English 'beginnan', meaning to attempt, undertake, or start.

Grammar Patterns

Irregular verb forms: begin, began, begun. Can be followed by a noun, a to-infinitive, or a gerund (v-ing).

Quick Quiz

The class will ___ at 9:00 AM sharp.

Correct!

The correct answer is: begin

Related Words

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

people

A1

People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.

put

A1

To move something into a particular place or position. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the act of placing an object or setting a situation in a specific location.

mean

A1

To have a specific sense or significance, especially when explaining a word or sign. It can also describe a person's intention or the importance of something to someone.

keep

A1

To continue to have or hold something in your possession or at your disposal. It also means to remain in a specific state, condition, or position without changing.

seem

A1

To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality based on what you see or hear. It is used to describe an appearance or feeling that may or may not be the actual truth.

help

A1

To make it easier for someone to do something by offering your services, resources, or support. It can involve physical effort, providing information, or giving money to assist a person or a cause.

talk

A1

To speak in order to give information or express ideas, feelings, or thoughts. It typically involves a conversation between two or more people or a person addressing an audience.

start

A1

To begin doing something or to cause something to happen for the first time. It is frequently used when talking about movements, journeys, or making a machine or engine begin to work.

show

A1

To allow something to be seen by pointing it out or displaying it. It can also mean to explain or demonstrate how to do a specific task.

Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Start learning languages for free

Start Learning Free