English is a very expressive language. Grammar rules, in most cases, are to help the readers understand the meaning of the sentence and at the same time, it also helps in improving their writing skills. The use of grammar rules will improve the sentence structure, thereby enhancing the writing skills.
Summary Table
| Began | Begun |
| Past tense | Past participle |
| Is used to express that an action has started in the past and it is still continuing | Is used to express that an action has started in the past and it has finished |
| Can be used alone | Initiated by ‘have’ |
In English, tenses are a vital part of grammar. It is very important to know the rules and guidelines on using tenses in English. The term ‘tense’ refers to the time or time period of a sentence or clause. It indicates whether the action has taken place at a specific point of time or not. In other words, it shows whether the action is happening now or not. For example, a sentence can be in the present tense or it can be in the past tense. A sentence can also be in the future tense.
The English grammar rules on tenses are quite straightforward. The use of different verbs, in different tenses, helps in creating sentences that are grammatically correct. However, when a sentence is not structured properly, it is not easy to understand.
In this article, we will discuss the difference between began and begun. We will also see the correct use of these two words in terms of grammar and writing.
What is Began?
The word ‘began’ means ‘to start’ or ‘to begin’.
The verb began is used to start a particular action. In other words, it is used to begin an action. The following example shows the correct use of the word ‘began’ in a sentence:
John began playing the guitar when he was fifteen years old.
What is Begun?
The word ‘begun’ means ‘to start’ or ‘to be started’. It also means ‘to be begun’ or ‘to have begun’. It is an important part of the English grammar rules on tenses. In most cases, the two words are used interchangeably. However, it can be seen that they are used differently in different contexts and circumstances. In some cases, the word began is preferred over the word begun. The following example shows the correct use of these two words in a sentence:
I have begun my new business venture with my cousin who is a successful businessman and entrepreneur. We will begin our campaign for election at a local political party meeting tomorrow evening. The new hotel began operation in the city on Tuesday.
The Similarities Between Began and Begun
Both began and begun have the same meaning. They both mean ‘to start’. These two words are often used interchangeably.
Began VS Begun
Here are the differences between began and begun:
The tenses
Began is the past tense of the verb begin. Begun is the past participle of the verb begin.
The usage
Began is used to express that an action has started in the past and it is still continuing. For example, “I began playing the piano when I was six years old.”
Begun is used to express that an action has started in the past and it has finished. For example, “I have begun to play the piano.”
The helping verb
Began can be used alone to express that an action has started, while begun can be initiated with ‘have’ to express that an action has finished.
