Starting a new language, taking up a new hobby, or turning over a new leaf in our lives… What they all have in common is taking that very first step. Although the verb “begin” is the first one that comes to mind when it comes to “starting” in English, we do not limit ourselves only to this word in daily conversations and fluent communication. The secret to speaking English more naturally, just like a native speaker, lies in incorporating phrasal verbs, which acquire entirely new meanings by combining with propositions, into our sentences.
Even though the word “begin” expresses a strong start on its own, there are wonderful phrasal verbs that are much more commonly used in daily life when getting down to business, starting from scratch, or suddenly diving into something. In this blog post, we have gathered both the structures formed with “begin” and the most common, popular phrasal verbs that mean “to start” in daily language. If you are ready, let’s make a great start to enrich your vocabulary!
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Most Common “Begin” Phrasal Verbs and Their Meanings
Although the number of phrasal verbs starting with “begin” is not very high, the use of “begin + preposition” structures is quite common in daily English. Let’s examine these usages together with their examples.
| Phrasal Verb / Expression | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Begin with | To start with something | Let's begin with the first question. |
| Begin by | To start by doing something | She began by introducing herself. |
| Begin again | To start again | After a short break, we began again. |
| Begin to | To start doing something | He began to laugh after hearing the joke. |
| Begin from | To start from a particular place or point | The tour begins from the main entrance. |
| Begin over | To start again from the beginning | We had to begin over after losing our work. |
| Begin doing | To start performing an action | They began working on the project yesterday. |
| Begin on | To start working on something | They began on the repairs this morning. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Phrasal Verbs Starting with “Begin” in English
Let’s take a look at the most frequently asked questions about phrasal verbs starting with “begin” together!
What is the difference between “begin with” and “begin by”?
We use “begin with” when we start something with a specific object or thing (for example: The lesson began with a song). When focusing on how we start a task, we usually prefer “begin by”, which is generally followed by a verb ending in “-ing” (For example: She began by introducing herself).
Is there a big difference between “begin” and “start”?
In daily life, both have exactly the same meaning. However, “begin” is more formal and is preferred in written language, books, or stories. “Start” is much more casual and common in daily conversations. Additionally, you can only use “start” to run machines or vehicles; “begin” is not used in this context.
Can an object come between “begin” and the preposition that follows it?
Generally no. With expressions like “begin with” or “begin as”, the preposition directly follows the verb (for example: The movie begins with an action scene). To maintain semantic integrity, these structures are used side by side as a set phrase.
What are the most common phrasal verbs used in daily conversation instead of “begin”?
In daily English, especially among friends or in casual conversations, phrasal verbs like “start up” (to start a business/machine), “kick off” (to start an event/match), or “dive into” (to get into a task quickly) are much more frequently preferred instead of “begin”.
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