VOA名师答疑2023--Begin, Start, Commence

Begin, Start, Commence¹

Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we will answer a question about "start," "begin," and "commence."

Question:

Dear VOA,

Please let me know the difference between "begin," "start" and "commence," and their usage².

Regards,

Saeed from Iran

Answer

Thanks for this great question, Saeed!

These words have similar meanings, but the difference lies in how formal they are and their usage. Let's take a closer look at each one. Let's start with "start!"

Start

"Start" can either be a verb or a noun³. As a verb, "start" means to happen or come into being from a particular point in time.

I always start my day with a cup of tea.

Julie started teaching⁴ last year.

As a noun, "start" has two meanings. It can be the point in time when something happens or begins.

The start of the race is downtown.

When is the start of the budget year?

Another meaning is a movement that is sudden or surprising.

Guinea pigs have sudden starts called "popcorning," like jumping in the air.

We also use "start" to talk about things like machines and business.

My computer will not start!

She started her own business by creating videos on YouTube.

In comparison⁵ to the other words, "begin" and "commence," "start" is the most informal of the three.

Begin

"Begin" means the same thing as "start." But remember that "begin" has different spelling in the past tenses - "began" and "begun." Here are some examples:

Regina began as an actor before changing her career to become a director.

I have begun to work on the class project, but I have yet to finish it.

In language, sometimes we say a word "begins" with a certain letter of the alphabet. We also use it to describe when someone starts to speak.

"I cannot wait for Friday," she began, "this work week felt so long!"

Commence

"Commence" means to start or begin. The difference is that "commence" is the most formal of the three. We usually use commence when talking about a ceremony or a project.

The graduation ceremony commences⁶ at one in the afternoon.

The groundbreaking for the new building will commence in the morning.

Spring commenced⁷ two days ago.

Please let us know if these explanations and examples have helped you, Saeed!

What question do you have about American English? Send us an email at [email protected]

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Words in This Story

formal – adj. following or according with established form, custom, or rule

particular – adj. used to indicate that one specific person or thing is being referred to and no others

graduation – n. the act of receiving a diploma from a school, college or university

1 commence   

vt.开始；vi.获得学位

参考例句：

• We will commence with this work.我们将开始这项工作。
• The factory will commence full scale operation next month.工厂将于下月开始全力生产。

2 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

3 noun   

n.名词

参考例句：

• What kind of noun is this?这是哪类名词？
• This word is a collective noun.这个词是个集体名词。

4 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

5 comparison   

n.比较，对照；比拟，比喻

参考例句：

• They make a comparison of New York to a beehive.他们把纽约比作一个蜂巢。
• This dress is really cheaper by comparison.比较起来，这件衣服确实便宜。

6 commences   

开始( commence的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The Bible commences with the Genesis. 《圣经》开头是《创世记》。
• The second term commences in March. 第二学期自三月开始。

7 commenced   

开始( commence的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The little girl commenced to cry when she saw the snake. 这小女孩一看到蛇就开始哭了起来。
• She commenced her life as an actress in the 1930s. 从30年代她就开始舞台生涯。