verb (structure) · neutral

begin / start + V-ing / to + V

Band 4-5speakingtask2

begin/start can be followed by either a gerund or an infinitive with little change in meaning; choice may slightly affect focus (ongoing action vs action as a whole).

Examples

“She began working at the company last year.”

“He started to study more seriously after the exam results.”

“The children started laughing when the teacher told the story.”

Band 8 sentence

“Students often begin to revise their notes well before final exams start.”

Collocations

  • start + V-ing (start working)
  • start to + V (start to work)

Word family

begin verbstart verb

Common mistakes

He started to began the project last month.→He started the project last month.

She started to singing when the music played.→She started singing when the music played.

Say it for a higher band

5start + V-ing→6start to + V→7+begin / start + V-ing / to + V

Synonyms

commence

Easily confused

commence + V-ing / commence to + V

“The ceremony will commence at noon.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + Vas well as + V-ing

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Gerunds & infinitives

Learn it with its set