began
v. A1 Beginner US //biˈɡæn// UK //bɪɡˈæn// be·gan
v. the past tense of 'begin'. You use it to talk about when something started in the past.
v. the past tense of 'begin'. Refers to the point in time when an action or state started.
The movie began ten minutes ago.
The rain began just as we stepped out of the car, so we ran for cover.
The industrial revolution began in the eighteenth century and fundamentally altered the social and economic landscape of the entire world.
Usage
The past tense form of 'begin'. It is an intransitive or transitive verb that does not require an auxiliary verb in the affirmative past simple.
Pitfall
The show has beganThe show has begunLearners often confuse the past simple 'began' with the past participle 'begun' when using the present perfect tense.