Word of the Day: Begin
When something starts, it begins. This word can be used for a person or a thing.
- The day begins when the sun rises.
- A novel begins on page one.
- The alphabet begins with the letter A.
- Mary’s name begins with the letter M.
- At what age does a baby begin to walk?
- Most kids begin kindergarten at the age of five or six.
- When did you begin to learn English?
“Begin” is an irregular verb, and the form of the verb changes depending on the tense:
| simple | past | past participle |
|---|---|---|
|
begin
|
began
|
begun
|
- The class began ten minutes ago. (past tense)
- The movie hasn’t begun yet. (present perfect tense)
- Yolanda will begin college in the fall. (future tense)
- Peter is beginning to learn Spanish.
- When did their problems begin?
The word “beginning” is a noun:
- The beginning of the novel was fascinating.
- Beginning a new life in another country is difficult.
- Scientists theorize that a “big bang” marked the beginning of the universe.
- Let’s start from the beginning. (Tell me what happened at the start.)
A beginner is a person who does something for the first time:
- She’s learning how to drive. She’s a beginner.
- Don’t be too critical of his abilities. He’s still a beginner.
- I’m sorry my piano playing is so bad. I’m still a beginner.
- Few people want to be operated on by a beginning surgeon. It’s preferable to have a procedure done by an expert with a lot of experience rather than a beginner.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with B page to see the list of all words starting with letter B. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
