start
starts
starting
started
Start means to begin or cause to begin an action or process. Regular verb: start-started-started.
Meanings
- To begin doing something
- To cause to begin
- To make a sudden movement from surprise
Common Collocations
start over
start from scratch
start off
false start
head start
Tip for Learners
Start is more common than begin in informal speech. Start over means to begin again from the beginning.
Present Simple
| I | start |
| you | start |
| he/she/it | starts |
| we | start |
| they | start |
Examples - Present Simple
- I start work at nine o'clock.
- You start the engine by pressing this button.
- She starts her day with yoga.
- We start our meetings with a brief check-in.
- They start school in September.
Present Continuous
| I | am starting |
| you | are starting |
| he/she/it | is starting |
| we | are starting |
| they | are starting |
Examples - Present Continuous
- I am starting a new job next week.
- You are starting to understand the concept.
- He is starting his own business.
- We are starting from scratch again.
- They are starting to worry about the deadline.
Present Perfect
| I | have started |
| you | have started |
| he/she/it | has started |
| we | have started |
| they | have started |
Examples - Present Perfect
- I have started learning Japanese.
- You have started something beautiful here.
- She has started a new chapter in her life.
- We have started receiving complaints.
- They have started the construction already.
Present Perfect Continuous
| I | have been starting |
| you | have been starting |
| he/she/it | has been starting |
| we | have been starting |
| they | have been starting |
Examples - Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been starting each day with meditation.
- You have been starting projects but not finishing them.
- He has been starting arguments all week.
- We have been starting earlier to beat the traffic.
- They have been starting their shifts at dawn.
Past Simple
| I | started |
| you | started |
| he/she/it | started |
| we | started |
| they | started |
Examples - Past Simple
- I started this company ten years ago.
- You started crying when you heard the song.
- He started running to catch the bus.
- We started dating in college.
- They started the fire accidentally.
Past Continuous
| I | was starting |
| you | were starting |
| he/she/it | was starting |
| we | were starting |
| they | were starting |
Examples - Past Continuous
- I was starting to get worried about you.
- You were starting to make progress.
- She was starting her presentation when the power went out.
- We were starting to think you weren't coming.
- They were starting a new life in Canada.
Past Perfect
| I | had started |
| you | had started |
| he/she/it | had started |
| we | had started |
| they | had started |
Examples - Past Perfect
- I had started cooking before the guests arrived.
- You had started the project without proper planning.
- He had started drinking before he got fired.
- We had started negotiations before the deadline.
- They had started building the house in March.
Past Perfect Continuous
| I | had been starting |
| you | had been starting |
| he/she/it | had been starting |
| we | had been starting |
| they | had been starting |
Examples - Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been starting each morning with exercise.
- You had been starting to show improvement.
- She had been starting rumours about us.
- We had been starting to lose hope.
- They had been starting work before sunrise.
Future Simple
| I | will start |
| you | will start |
| he/she/it | will start |
| we | will start |
| they | will start |
Examples - Future Simple
- I will start the diet on Monday.
- You will start feeling better soon.
- She will start university in the autumn.
- We will start the meeting without him.
- They will start shipping orders next week.
Future Continuous
| I | will be starting |
| you | will be starting |
| he/she/it | will be starting |
| we | will be starting |
| they | will be starting |
Examples - Future Continuous
- I will be starting my new job this time next month.
- You will be starting from the beginning.
- He will be starting treatment tomorrow.
- We will be starting production in January.
- They will be starting their journey at dawn.
Future Perfect
| I | will have started |
| you | will have started |
| he/she/it | will have started |
| we | will have started |
| they | will have started |
Examples - Future Perfect
- I will have started the course by then.
- You will have started seeing results within weeks.
- She will have started her new position by June.
- We will have started construction by spring.
- They will have started hiring by the end of the month.
Future Perfect Continuous
| I | will have been starting |
| you | will have been starting |
| he/she/it | will have been starting |
| we | will have been starting |
| they | will have been starting |
Examples - Future Perfect Continuous
- I will have been starting work at 6 AM for a year.
- You will have been starting each day with gratitude.
- He will have been starting therapy for six months.
- We will have been starting meetings on time for a while.
- They will have been starting early shifts for years.