ENGLISH
REFERENCE

start with sb/sth

phr. v..
A2 Elementary Oxford

phr. v.. to begin a task or a list by using or talking about a specific person or thing first.

phr. v.. to initiate a sequence, process, or discussion by addressing or utilizing a specific entity as the primary point of departure.


SIMPLE

Let's start with the easiest questions first.

CONTEXTUAL

We have many people to interview today, so we will start with the first candidate on the list.

COMPLEX

The lecturer decided to start with a brief overview of the historical context before delving into the specific data points of the study.

Particles
with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
start + with + object
Usage

the object is the first item in a series or the first step in a process.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'begin by' which is usually followed by a gerund; 'start with' is almost always followed by a noun phrase.

Pitfall

We start with to read the book.We start with the book.the preposition 'with' must be followed by a noun or pronoun, not an infinitive verb.

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