The verb to begin · Conjugation
Past Simple of begin
The answer: began
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to begin is began.
Example: The film began at 8 pm.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | began |
| You | began |
| He / She / It | began |
| We | began |
| You (pl.) | began |
| They | began |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. The film has began ❌
Began = Past Simple (used alone). Begun = past participle (after have / has). So say The film has begun.
2. Begining ❌
A verb that ends in one vowel + one consonant, with the stress at the end, doubles the consonant before -ing: beginning. It is the same with run → running.
3. Begined ❌
Begin is irregular. The Past Simple is began, never begined or beginned.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of begin?+
The Past Simple of begin is began, the same for every person. The past participle is begun (different from the Past Simple). Begin → began → begun.
What is the difference between began and begun?+
Began is the Past Simple, used alone: The film began at 8. Begun is the past participle, used after have / has: The film has already begun.
What is the difference between begin and start?+
Begin and start mean almost the same thing. Start is more common in speech; begin is a little more formal. Both can take to + verb or -ing.
Is it didn't begin or didn't began?+
Say didn't begin: The lesson didn't begin on time. After didn't, use the base form, begin (not began).
Why is beginning spelt with two n's?+
Begin ends in one vowel + one consonant, with the stress at the end (begin). So the n doubles before -ing: beginning. The same rule gives run → running and sit → sitting.
Related pages: begin Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/begin/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to begin are coming soon.