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Usage of "Begun" 31 Dec 2013, 07:52
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Can someone please xplain me the correct usage of "Begun". When and where it can be used in SC ?

Thanks

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Usage of "Begun" 01 Jan 2014, 22:47
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Can someone please xplain me the correct usage of "Begun". When and where it can be used in SC ?

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Can somebody please elaborate on this
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Usage of "Begun" Updated on: 02 Jan 2014, 01:02
Originally posted by CrackverbalGMAT on 02 Jan 2014, 00:08.
Last edited by CrackverbalGMAT on 02 Jan 2014, 01:02, edited 1 time in total.
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iyersu
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Can someone please xplain me the correct usage of "Begun". When and where it can be used in SC ?

Thanks

Can somebody please elaborate on this
Awaiting Reply,

Thanks
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"begun" is past participle of "begin" and is used in perfect tense.

"begin" is a verb and just like any other verb it can be used in multiple forms

such as :

begin (simple/ base form)- used when we are talking about something that is: Generally happening and not just right now (usual or permanent) A universal truth
For example:
Simple Present- Our class always begins with a revision of the last session.
Simple Future- I will begin the project tomorrow.


began (past of begin)- used in simple past tense - used to talk about something that happened in the past at a specific time.
For example: The Falklands War began on Friday 2 April 1982.

beginning (progressive form of begin)- used in progressive tense- used to emphasize the progress of an event at a particular time in past, present or future
For example:
Past progressive- They were beginning the show at 5 yesterday.
Present progressive- People are beginning to realize the importance of natural resources.
Future progressive- Any attack on our nuclear facility will be beginning of war.


begun (past participle of begin)- used in perfect tense (past, present and future)-
For example:
past perfect- Some of the most celebrated Australian chefs have begun incorporating Indian food elements.
present perfect- She had begun the task before he came.
future perfect- The audit will have begun by Monday

Another example:
Verbal Review, 2nd edition- Q81

Since 1986, when the Department of Labor began to
allow investment offi cers’ fees to be based on how the
funds they manage perform, several corporations
began paying their investment advisers a small basic
fee, with a contract promising higher fees if the
managers perform well

began vs have begun

investment offi cers’ fees to be based on the
performance of the funds they manage, several
corporations began

fees of investment officers to be based on the
performance of the funds they manage, several
corporations have begun

"Since 1986" suggests continuity of the action. As the action did not complete in past and is continuing into the present, the correct form of verb will be "have begun".


Hope this helps!
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Usage of "Begun" 02 Jan 2014, 00:30
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iyersu
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Can someone please xplain me the correct usage of "Begun". When and where it can be used in SC ?

Thanks

Can somebody please elaborate on this
Awaiting Reply,

Thanks
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'began' denotes a past action.
'begun' is the past participle form of 'begin' and will be used either as 'have begun' or 'has begun' (present perfect), 'had begun' (past perfect) and 'will have begun' (future perfect)

The following are few gmat question stems that explain the usage of the word 'begun' with explanations provided in situ

1. a. The universe began in an explosive instant.
b. The universe has begun in an explosive instant

Both the sentences are correct. The meaning changes, but grammatically, both are perfectly correct. .

2. a. The ophthalmologists' offices have begun selling prescription goggles to their customers once the nearby gymnasium had completed adding an Olympic size outdoor pool.
b. The ophthalmologists began selling prescription goggles to their customers once the nearby gymnasium had completed adding an Olympic size outdoor pool

There is a past perfect action, and it must be followed by a past action - to denote the sequencing of events. So, b is correct.

3. a. Financial institutions have begun demanding that analysts design a report summarizing profit and loss data for the last five years.
b. Financial institutions began to demand that analysts should design a report to summarize profit and loss data for the last five years.

a has a subjunctive and is correct. We haven't eliminated a/b on the basis of have begun/began (unlike in ex. 2, where we did so. Because, sequencing is necessary in 2. In this ex., tense is not an important factor)

4. a. Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, and Minnesota have begun to enforce statewide bans prohibiting landfills from accepting leaves, brush, and grass clippings.
b. Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, and Minnesota began to enforce statewide bans prohibiting landfills to accept leaves, brush, and grass clippings.

a is correct because, Prohibiting from is the correct usage. Like in 3, tense isn't a point of worry.

5. a. An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women
b. An attempt that has begun almost two decades ago to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women

a is correct because, 'an attempt to..' is idiomatic.

6. a. Spanning more than fifty years, Friedrich Muller began his career in an unpromising apprenticeship as a Sanskrit scholar ...
b. Spanning more than fifty years, the career of Muller has begun with an unpromising apprenticeship of ...

b is correct. Because, 'career' is spanning over fifty years, not 'Friedrich Muller' as said in a. Tense isn't the point of worry here.

Begun is like any other perfect tense and the usage should be according to the rules of using a perfect tense.
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Usage of "Begun" 02 Jan 2014, 01:09
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iyersu
iyersu
Can someone please xplain me the correct usage of "Begun". When and where it can be used in SC ?

Thanks

Can somebody please elaborate on this
Awaiting Reply,

Thanks

'began' denotes a past action.
'begun' is the past participle form of 'begin' and will be used either as 'have begun' or 'has begun' (present perfect), 'had begun' (past perfect) and 'will have begun' (future perfect)

The following are few gmat question stems that explain the usage of the word 'begun' with explanations provided in situ

1. a. The universe began in an explosive instant.
b. The universe has begun in an explosive instant

Both the sentences are correct. The meaning changes, but grammatically, both are perfectly correct. .

2. a. The ophthalmologists' offices have begun selling prescription goggles to their customers once the nearby gymnasium had completed adding an Olympic size outdoor pool.
b. The ophthalmologists began selling prescription goggles to their customers once the nearby gymnasium had completed adding an Olympic size outdoor pool

There is a past perfect action, and it must be followed by a past action - to denote the sequencing of events. So, b is correct.

3. a. Financial institutions have begun demanding that analysts design a report summarizing profit and loss data for the last five years.
b. Financial institutions began to demand that analysts should design a report to summarize profit and loss data for the last five years.

a has a subjunctive and is correct. We haven't eliminated a/b on the basis of have begun/began (unlike in ex. 2, where we did so. Because, sequencing is necessary in 2. In this ex., tense is not an important factor)

4. a. Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, and Minnesota have begun to enforce statewide bans prohibiting landfills from accepting leaves, brush, and grass clippings.
b. Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, and Minnesota began to enforce statewide bans prohibiting landfills to accept leaves, brush, and grass clippings.

a is correct because, Prohibiting from is the correct usage. Like in 3, tense isn't a point of worry.

5. a. An attempt to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, begun almost two decades ago, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women
b. An attempt that has begun almost two decades ago to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, has been unsuccessful despite efforts by many important groups, including the National Organization for Women

a is correct because, 'an attempt to..' is idiomatic.

6. a. Spanning more than fifty years, Friedrich Muller began his career in an unpromising apprenticeship as a Sanskrit scholar ...
b. Spanning more than fifty years, the career of Muller has begun with an unpromising apprenticeship of ...

b is correct. Because, 'career' is spanning over fifty years, not 'Friedrich Muller' as said in a. Tense isn't the point of worry here.

Begun is like any other perfect tense and the usage should be according to the rules of using a perfect tense.
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Hi all,

Thanks for your inputs,

Can somebody have any pointers regarding where Begun should be used in SC like we have for some correct usgae of "Being"

Thanks :)
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