Difference between Began & Begun

Began vs Begun

Language can be a complex network of different tenses, and it’s essential that these tenses are used correctly in the appropriate context. However, when it comes to some verbs, it can be challenging to distinguish one tense from another. Began and begun are two such words that often cause confusion for this reason.

Began

Began is the past tense of the verb “begin,” which means to perform the first or earliest part of an action. It can also mean to originate or be the originator of a particular thing. Synonyms for “begin” include start, commence, and initiate. Began is used to imply that something has already started or that the origination of something has already occurred. Consider the following examples:

• The race began three hours ago.
• My sister began her education at the age of three.
• She began to show signs of distress at the mention of his name.

All three of the above examples refer to events that occurred in the past.

Begun

Begun is the past participle of the verb “begin.” It cannot be used by itself as a verb and must be used in conjunction with another verb that supports it. It is used to give a sense of the past while implying that the action may not be completed just yet. Consider the following examples:

• The play has just begun.
• I have begun my course on pottery.
• The company has begun to make a profit.

In the above examples, “begun” has been used alongside another verb, as it cannot be used by itself as a verb. Furthermore, they give the idea that the act that has already started is not complete as of yet.

What is the difference between Begin and Begun?

Began and begun both stem from the same verb “begin,” which means to initiate or start something. However, they belong to two different tenses, and one tense cannot be substituted for the other when using them in appropriate contexts.

• Began is the past tense of the verb “begin.” Begun is the past participle of the verb “begin.”
• Began can be used by itself as a verb. Begun cannot be used by itself as a verb and must be complemented by another verb to be used in a sentence. For example,
– The school began its operations three years ago.
– The play had begun a while back.

Key Takeaways

• Began is the past tense of the verb “begin,” while begun is the past participle of the verb “begin.”
• Began can be used by itself as a verb, but begun cannot be used by itself and must be complemented by another verb in a sentence.
• Both began and begun stem from the verb “begin” but belong to different tenses and cannot be substituted for one another in appropriate contexts.