Beginning vs. Begin

[Doris U.]

Test No. incompl/elem-6 "Start/Begin", question 4

I read the ......... of that book but I couldn't possibly read the whole story.

(a) starting
(b) start
(c) beginning
(d) begin

Test No. incompl/elem-6 "Start/Begin", answer 4

I read the beginning of that book but I couldn't possibly read the whole story.

Correct answer: (c) beginning
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Why not begin???

Doris U.

[Alan]

You need the noun here beginning.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Daemon99]

And why not starting?
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Non-native speaker of English
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I intend to live forever - so far, so good.

[Alan]

Hi,

'Starting' is not usually used as a noun but more often in an adjectival function as 'starting point'.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Editha]

Hi,
can someone explain me this "start" and "begin" writing???
It's realy important to me :cry:

[Gr8sang]

sir please explain me why beginning and why not starting???
as starting is used for the initial phase of something like reading or writing etc...

[Beeesneees]

begin a story, begin a book, begin to write, begin the sentence.

All these things have a very specific point of beginning, compared to these:

start a car, start a motor, start reading, start the engine, start work.

That said, English speakers often use them interchangeably (except for starting motors, engines and the like, where 'begin' is never used.) so other than for exams and tests (which of course, will concern you a great deal!) you won't have to worry about them too much.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Rugal]

please, could give the meanings of "start off", "begin off", "begin up" and "start up"? thank you.

[Alan]

Hi,

'Begin off' doesn't exist nor does 'begin up'.

'Start off' suggests starting for the very first time. 'Start up' is often used to start a motor/engine that is being used after a break or pause.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Passive Voice

[Madan Keshari]

I was confused in this Question

[Leili1787]

you should study the 3rd test in this page to understand the explanation

[Phuong81299]

is ' beginning allways followed by the'?

[Alan]

Hi Phuong81299,

I am afraid that is an impossible question to answer because there are many ways you could use the word in a sentence. 'Beginning' can be both a noun and also a participle formed from the verb 'begin'.

Remember the spelling of 'always'.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Prepositions

[Phuong81299]

oh...so shy.yes.I will remember..thanks Alan

[Surbhijain5]

hello sir
i m still cofused to differntiate b/w begin and start, i have read your article "start and begin" .
would you explain me? thanks in advance:)