begin
单词辨析：
指动作开始且持续下去，强调开始这一事实。
The yacht will start its maiden voyage next week.
这艘游艇将于下周开始它的处女航。
They were starting to skate.
他们正开始滑冰。
Wet the clay a bit more before you start to mould it.
把泥弄湿点再动手塑形。
最常用词，指为某一过程或进程开个头，常可与 start 换用。
They began/started to work.
他们开始工作了。
The class began/started with a story.
这节课是从一个故事开始的。
When did you begin/start learning Japanese?
你何时开始学习日语的？
指开始某种正式行动，常伴有正式程序或一定的仪式，语气庄重。
When will the opening ceremony commence?
开幕式什么时候开始?
They'll commence building next week.
他们下周破土动工。
Further negotiations on services will commence in 2012.
服务业的进一步谈判将于2012年开启。
以上这组词作为瞬时动词，通常不可与表示一段时间的状语连用。
相关例句：
He's awaiting trial, which is expected to begin early next year.
他在等候审判，预计明年初开始。
He began his career as a sound editor.
他是从声音剪辑师做起的。
The weight loss began to look more serious
体重下降眼看开始变得愈发厉害了。
The plum season is about to begin
快到吃李子的季节了。
All right, but make it snappy. The meeting is to begin in a few minutes.
好的，但要快，没有几分钟就要开会了。
What began as a local festival has blossomed into an international event.
原先的地方节日已经发展成为一项国际性活动。