Began or Begun?

These two words are confusing, and even I’ll admit that I have issues with them from time to time. However, they are not interchangeable, so as a writer, you must know when to use either word.

Began

This tense of the verb “to begin” occurs alone. It is the past tense, so you use it when you are talking about something that has already happened (i.e. in the past) and the action has been completed.

I began writing a new fantasy story yesterday.

He began his first article for Mibba last week.

Once again, they began debating in the forums.

You began blogging on Mibba about a month ago.

Begun

Begun is a past participle, which means it has to follow “have”. Using “begun” implies that the action has not yet been completed, though it has been started in the past.

I have begun to write a new fantasy story.

He has begun to write his first article for Mibba.

They have begun to debate in the forums again.

You had begun to blog on Mibba about a month ago.

It takes a while to get used to, but if you really think about it before you write it, and start saying the correct words out loud, then it will become a lot easier to remember. If you have begun to think of another grammar point you would like a tutorial on, then send me a comment and I’ll write it up!