VERBONKSPlay freeBegin past tense and past participlebegin · began · begun
The past participle (the 3rd form) of begin is begun and the past simple is began. The three forms are begin, began, begun. Not "begined"! begin is an irregular verb, so it doesn't add -ed.
Begin in a sentence
The exam began and my brain left.
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present simple | I begin · she begins |
| Present continuous | I am beginning · they are beginning |
| Past simple | I began · she began · they began |
| Past simple, negative | I didn't begin · she didn't begin |
| Past simple, question | Did you begin? · Did she begin? |
| Present perfect | I have begun · she has begun |
| Past perfect | I had begun |
| Future | I will begin |
Common mistakes with begin
✗ I begined✓ I began✗ I didn't began✓ I didn't begin✗ Did you began?✓ Did you begin?✗ I have began✓ I have begun
After didn't and in questions with did, use the base form. After have / has / had, use the past participle.
❓ Test yourself: 10-question quizEn español
begin significa empezar. Pasado: began. Participio: begun.
🎤 begin runs with The Sing Gang
i → a → u
The Sing Gang hides a secret code in their vowels. Listen closely: sing, sang, sung. i, a, u. Crack the code and you crack every member: drink, drank, drunk. swim, swam, swum. begin, began, begun. Their favourite crime? Getting people to say "I have sang".
🔎 How to spot one: The vowel goes i → a → u. The a is the past, the u is the participle.
Irregular verbs come in gangs that change the same way. Learn one and you can guess the rest of the gang:
| Base | Past | Participle |
|---|---|---|
| sing | sang | sung |
| drink | drank | drunk |
| swim | swam | swum |
| begin | began | begun |
Questions about begin
What is the past tense of begin?
The past simple of "begin" is "began". Example: The exam began and my brain left.
What is the past participle of begin?
The past participle (3rd form, V3) of "begin" is "begun", as in "I have begun".
What are the 3 forms of begin?
V1 begin, V2 began, V3 begun.
Is begin a regular or an irregular verb?
"begin" is an irregular verb: the past is not "begined" but "began".
¿Cuál es el pasado y el participio de begin?
"begin" significa "empezar". Pasado: began. Participio: begun.