Start past tense

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Meaning of start

begin or cause to begin.

Infinitive

Word: start /stɑːt/
Examples:
  • 1. Every morning, she starts her day with a cup of coffee.
  • 2. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. sharp.
  • 3. The software automatically starts scanning for updates when you turn on your computer.

Past Simple

Word: started /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. We started our journey at dawn to avoid heavy traffic.
  • 2. She started a new book last night but didn't get very far.
  • 3. He started working at the company ten years ago and has been there ever since.

Past Participle

Word: started /ˈstɑːr.tɪd/
Examples:
  • 1. The race had been started by the officials before the rain began.
  • 2. All the engines have been started to ensure a smooth operation.
  • 3. The project was started by a small group of committed volunteers.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual actions or routines. When we talk about actions that happen regularly or things that are always true.
    Example. I start work at 9 am every day.
    Example. The sun starts in the east.
    Example. The train starts at 6 pm from platform In storytelling or jokes to make them more exciting. Sometimes used in an informal context to make stories or jokes more immediate and engaging.
    Example. So this guy walks into a bar and immediately starts a conversation with the bartender.
  2. General truths or laws of nature. To state facts that are generally true or describe laws of nature.
    Example. I start work at 9 am every day.
    Example. The sun starts in the east.
    Example. The train starts at 6 pm from platform In storytelling or jokes to make them more exciting. Sometimes used in an informal context to make stories or jokes more immediate and engaging.
    Example. So this guy walks into a bar and immediately starts a conversation with the bartender.
  3. Scheduled events in the near future (especially in timetables). To talk about scheduled events, often related to public transportation or official timetables.
    Example. I start work at 9 am every day.
    Example. The sun starts in the east.
    Example. The train starts at 6 pm from platform In storytelling or jokes to make them more exciting. Sometimes used in an informal context to make stories or jokes more immediate and engaging.
    Example. So this guy walks into a bar and immediately starts a conversation with the bartender.

Past Simple

  1. Completed actions in the past. To talk about actions or events that started and ended at a specific time in the past.
    Example. The concert started at 8 pm last night.
    Example. They started their journey early in the morning and reached the mountains by noon.
    Example. When I was a kid, I started my homework right after school every day.
    Example. In the 1800s, the workday started at dawn.
  2. Narratives. When telling a story or recounting events that happened in the past.
    Example. The concert started at 8 pm last night.
    Example. They started their journey early in the morning and reached the mountains by noon.
    Example. When I was a kid, I started my homework right after school every day.
    Example. In the 1800s, the workday started at dawn.
  3. Habitual actions in the past. When discussing habits or routines that were true in the past but not anymore.
    Example. The concert started at 8 pm last night.
    Example. They started their journey early in the morning and reached the mountains by noon.
    Example. When I was a kid, I started my homework right after school every day.
    Example. In the 1800s, the workday started at dawn.
  4. Past facts or generalizations. To state facts or generalizations that were true in the past but not necessarily now.
    Example. The concert started at 8 pm last night.
    Example. They started their journey early in the morning and reached the mountains by noon.
    Example. When I was a kid, I started my homework right after school every day.
    Example. In the 1800s, the workday started at dawn.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect tenses.
    Example. I have already started my report.
    Example. By the time the meeting started, I had already started outlining the project.
    Example. By next month, I will have started my new job.
    Example. The race was started by the sound of a gunshot.
    Example. If the project had been started earlier, we could have avoided the rush.
  2. Present Perfect. To talk about experiences up to now or actions that have an impact on the present moment.
    Example. I have already started my report.
    Example. By the time the meeting started, I had already started outlining the project.
    Example. By next month, I will have started my new job.
    Example. The race was started by the sound of a gunshot.
    Example. If the project had been started earlier, we could have avoided the rush.
  3. Past Perfect. To discuss something that happened before a past action or time.
    Example. I have already started my report.
    Example. By the time the meeting started, I had already started outlining the project.
    Example. By next month, I will have started my new job.
    Example. The race was started by the sound of a gunshot.
    Example. If the project had been started earlier, we could have avoided the rush.
  4. Future Perfect. To talk about an action that will be completed before a specific future time or event.
    Example. I have already started my report.
    Example. By the time the meeting started, I had already started outlining the project.
    Example. By next month, I will have started my new job.
    Example. The race was started by the sound of a gunshot.
    Example. If the project had been started earlier, we could have avoided the rush.
  5. Passive voice. To describe an action that was done to the subject, rather than the subject doing the action, especially when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.
    Example. I have already started my report.
    Example. By the time the meeting started, I had already started outlining the project.
    Example. By next month, I will have started my new job.
    Example. The race was started by the sound of a gunshot.
    Example. If the project had been started earlier, we could have avoided the rush.
  6. Conditional sentences. In some conditional sentences to express hypothetical situations or speculations.
    Example. I have already started my report.
    Example. By the time the meeting started, I had already started outlining the project.
    Example. By next month, I will have started my new job.
    Example. The race was started by the sound of a gunshot.
    Example. If the project had been started earlier, we could have avoided the rush.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing forms

A common mistake is using the past simple form of a verb when the past participle is required, or vice versa. The past simple is used for the simple past tense, indicating that an action was completed in the past (e.g., 'I started the project yesterday'). The past participle is often used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The project has been started by me' or 'I have started the project'). Mixing these up can lead to grammatical errors and confusion about the time or nature of the action.

— 02

Incorrect Formation of Regular Verbs

Some learners mistakenly apply irregular verb patterns to regular verbs, leading to incorrect past simple and past participle forms. Regular verbs form their past simple and past participle by adding -ed to the base form (e.g., 'start' becomes 'started' for both past simple and past participle). However, a common mistake is irregularly modifying the verb (e.g., saying 'storted' instead of 'started'), which is incorrect and can cause misunderstandings.

— 03

Irregular Verbs Misuse

Irregular verbs do not follow the standard -ed ending rule for their past simple and past participle forms, which can lead to errors if one is not familiar with the correct forms. For example, the verb 'begin' has the past simple form 'began' and the past participle form 'begun.' Mistakenly using 'begined' (trying to apply the regular verb rule) or confusing 'began' with 'begun' can result in grammatical inaccuracies that might confuse the listener or reader about the action's timing or completion.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the past simple and past participle forms of 'start'?

The past simple form of 'start' is 'started', and the past participle form is also 'started'. Both forms use the same spelling.

How do you use 'started' in a past simple sentence?

To use 'started' in a past simple sentence, you typically conjugate the verb to match the subject and express an action that began and ended in the past. Here is an example. 'She started her new job last Monday.' This sentence indicates that the action of starting the job occurred in the past and is complete.

Can you give an example of how to use 'started' as a past participle in a sentence?

Yes, the past participle form of 'start,' which is 'started,' is often used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or the passive voice. Here’s an example in the present perfect tense. 'They have already started the project.' This sentence suggests that the action of starting the project occurred at some point in the past and may still be relevant now. Is there a difference in meaning or usage between the past simple and past participle forms of 'start'