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I am confused about these below:
"I begin to study English"
"I begin studying English'
Are they different in meaning ?Or no difference?

2006-10-12 03:16:20 · 11 answers · asked by Gone Car 1 in Society & Culture Languages

11 answers

Actually they are not correct sentences if you are speaking. The correct "form" of the verb begin in these sentences is 'began' or 'have begun' or 'am beginning'. If you wish to use the word begin in your sentence you will need to use an indication that this is
something that will happen in the FUTURE.
For example:
I will begin to study English.
-or-
I will begin studying English.

If on the other hand you are speaking about the PRESENT -or - NOW, to be correct you would need to change the "verb tense" to:
I am beginning to study English.
-or-
I am beginning studying English. *
*(this sentence is a bit awkward because of the 2 words together ending in -ing, but I believe it is still acceptable, just not preferable)

There are 2 other ways to present the statement:
I have begun
I had began
However, I suppose this is going way beyond the scope of your question. I hope I helped some; I've never answered a question here before; I'm a beginner.
To answer your question, YES they are saying the same thing -

*Please Note: This is my own opinion based on what I know and understand of my native language (I'm 48 and self-educated with a fascination for the English Language - the Spoken Word - actually, but English is the one I know the most about.
Best of All Things To You

2006-10-12 04:55:12 · answer #1 · answered by mykalbarton 2 · 0 0

Probably neither one is what you want. It makes more sense to say either:

I began to study English (or I began studying English -- same thing)

or

I am beginning to study English

The first is for the case that you began studying in the past. The second is the case that you are beginning to study now.

2006-10-12 10:25:46 · answer #2 · answered by Larry 6 · 1 0

The two phrases you have written down basically mean the same thing.

Grammatically speaking though, I would write (for present tense):
"I am beginning to study English" or "I am studying English."

For past tense I would write: "I began to study English" or "I was beginning to study English."

I might say the phrases you have written down to a friend if I am in a conversation where things have to be said quickly -- because of the natural flow of conversation, but I would not write those phrases in a letter to someone.

If you used those phrases as subtitles in a diary or a story about yourself, I think they would be fine, but I would write them like this:

I Begin to Study English

or

I Begin Studying English

**************

I hope this helps you.

2006-10-12 10:32:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Well, if you are using the present tense you would say "I'm beginning to study English".
If you are using the past tense, "I began studying English".

2006-10-12 10:27:35 · answer #4 · answered by e_shepard 3 · 1 0

When you add the "ing" you are saying that what you are doing (the verb or action word) is happening now. In other words, I study means that you could be doing it at any time in the past, present or the future. When you use the "ing" you are stating that you are doing it right now. It's those little nuances that makes English so hard to learn.

2006-10-12 10:28:13 · answer #5 · answered by yiqqahah 4 · 1 0

I would either put it in past tense with:
I began studying English

OR

Present tense:
I am beginning to study English, blah blah blah

2006-10-12 10:25:02 · answer #6 · answered by Kit 4 · 1 0

I began to study English
I began studying English

2006-10-12 10:24:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

they mean the same to me.
"I began to study English"
"I began studying English"

2006-10-12 10:25:08 · answer #8 · answered by Michelle : 5 · 1 0

No difference

2006-10-14 23:58:26 · answer #9 · answered by Knight H 4 · 0 0

Mean the same to me.

2006-10-12 10:23:51 · answer #10 · answered by JustAnotherJoe 3 · 1 0

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