Words / A1

bi-GIN/bɪˈɡɪn/

Begin means start: the class begins at nine; begin to rain. Start is the everyday cousin; begin is a little more neutral. Beginning is the noun. Began is the past; begun is with have.

Meaning

To start doing something, or to start happening.

Examples

• “The class begins at nine.”
• “Let’s begin page twelve.”
• “It began to snow after lunch.”

Good to know

begin + noun / begin to + verb. Past: began. Synonym: start.

Near in meaning

start

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