begun
word · lemma: begin
/ˈbeɪɡən/
bi-GUHN
/bɪɡˈʌn/
bi-GUHN
Definition
'Begun' is the past participle of 'begin'. It is used with 'have', 'has', or 'had' to say that something started in the past.
Usage & Nuances
Use 'began' for the simple past ('The class began at nine') and 'begun' after 'have/has/had' ('The class has begun'). Learners often say 'has began', but the correct form is 'has begun'.
Spanish: comenzado - empezadoPortuguese (BR): começado - iniciadoPortuguese (PT): começado - iniciadoChinese (Simplified): 开始了Chinese (Traditional): 開始了Hindi: शुरू किया हुआ - आरंभ किया हुआArabic: بدأ - شرع فيBengali: শুরু হয়েছেRussian: начался - началась - началось - началисьJapanese: 始まったVietnamese: bắt đầuKorean: 시작되었다Turkish: başladıUrdu: شروع ہوچکا تھا - شروع ہوگیا تھاIndonesian: dimulai
Example Sentences
The movie has begun.
basic
We have begun our lesson.
basic
It had begun to rain.
basic
Sorry I'm late—the meeting has already begun.
natural
Once the repairs had begun, we couldn't use the kitchen.
natural
The conversation had barely begun when the phone rang.
natural