What is the difference between the words began and begun?

Answer 1

In grammatical terms, it's this: "began" is past tense and "begun" is the past participle.

What this means in use is that if you are talking about something in the simple past tense, you would always use "began." These sentences are correct:

- I began music lessons when I was 6.

- The story began in the Colonial Period.

- Where were you when the game began?

- Our relationship began when we were in high school.

A participle can't be used all by itself as a verb. Another verb has to go with it. So you can't say something "begun." You have to say it "has begun," "had begun," "was begun," "will be begun," and so on.

"Begun" would be wrong in every one of the examples above and in any other sentence like them.

Here are some correct uses of "begun." Notice the helping verb (the auxiliary verb) that goes along with it. The verbs can be separated--such as by "not"--but they still work together.

- You cannot be seated after the play has begun.

- I have begun a shopping list.

- We have not yet begun to fight.

Likewise, if you are using "had" or "have" or another auxiliary, you must use "begun" and not "began." These sentences are all wrong:

WRONG - Have you began your assignment?

WRONG - My shift had began at 3:00.

WRONG - The party has not began yet.

Answer 2

"Began" is the simple past form of the verb "begin," used to describe an action that started in the past and is now completed. "Begun" is the past participle form of the verb "begin," used with helping verbs like "have" or "has" to indicate an action that started in the past and is continuing in the present.