Began vs Begun
What’s the difference between them?
Began
Meaning:
Past tense form of the verb 'begin' that means started or commenced.
Examples:
1. She began her speech with a joke.
2. The game began at 7 o'clock.
3. We began our journey early in the morning.
Begun
Meaning:
Past participle form of the verb 'begin.'
Examples:
1. The race has begun!
2. We've only just begun our journey.
3. I'm so glad the project has begun.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Began
Started
Commenced
Initiated
Ended
Begun
Started
Commenced
Initiated
Ended
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Began", "Begun".
1. 'Began' is the past simple tense of 'begin' and is used without an auxiliary verb.
2. 'Begun' is the past participle of 'begin' and is always used with an auxiliary verb (has, have, had).
3. If the sentence is in the simple past and does not use has, have, or had, use 'began.' E.g., 'She began her project last month.'
4. If the sentence uses has, have, or had, indicating the present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect tense, use 'begun.' E.g., 'She has begun a new project.'
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
When to use the first word 'Began'?
Began is the simple past tense form of the verb 'begin'. It is used to describe something that started in the past and has finished or is still ongoing. For example, 'She began her journey two days ago' or 'He began to search for a new job last month'.
When to use the second word 'Begun'?
Begun is the past participle form of the verb 'begin'. It is used in the perfect tenses to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. For example, 'She has begun her journey' or 'He had begun searching for a new job'.
Do the words have the same pronunciation?
No, the words have different pronunciations. Began is pronounced 'bee-gen' and Begun is pronounced 'bee-gun'.
What are common mistakes associated with the words 'Began' and 'Begun'?
The most common mistake is mixing up the two words. Began is used for simple past tense, while Begun is used for perfect tenses. Another mistake people make is mispronouncing the words. As mentioned, Began is pronounced 'bay-gun' and Begun is pronounced 'bee-gun'.
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. I have ___ to understand the concept.
2. He ______ to feel uneasy about the situation.
3. Have you ______ to learn the language yet?
4. She _____ her journey two days ago.
5. We had already ______ when you arrived.
6. He has______ a new job.
1. Answer: begun
Explanation: Began is the simple past form of the verb to begin. Begun is the past participle form of the verb to begin. Here, the sentence is in the present perfect tense, so we must use the past participle form begun.
2. Answer: began
Explanation: Here, the sentence is in the simple past tense, so we must use the simple past form began.
3. Answer: begun
Explanation: Here, the sentence is in the present perfect tense, so we must use the past participle form begun.
4. Answer: began
Explanation: Here, the sentence is in the simple past tense, so we must use the simple past form began.
5. Answer: begun
Explanation: Here, the sentence is in the past perfect tense, so we must use the past participle form begun.
6. Answer: begun
Explanation: Here, the sentence is in the past perfect tense, so we must use the past participle form begun.
Get a gift by subscribing to our newsletter!
Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.