• There is not much difference in meaning between begin and start, though start is more common in spoken English. * begin 和 start 的含义差别不大，不过 start 较常用于口语：◆What time does the concert start/begin? 音乐会什么时候开场？◆She started/began working here three months ago. 她三个月前开始在这儿工作。 Begin is often used when you are describing a series of events. * begin 常用以指一系列事情的开始：◆The story begins on the island of Corfu. 故事从科孚岛上开始。 Start, but not begin, can also mean 'to start a journey', 'to start something happening' or 'to start a machine working'. * start 亦含出发、使发生、使（机器）运转之义，begin 不含此义：◆We'll need to start at 7.00. 我们需要在 7 点钟出发。◆Who do you think started the fire? 你看是谁点的火？◆The car won't start. 汽车发动不起来。
• You can use either an infinitive or a form with -ing after begin and start, with no difference in meaning. * begin 和 start 之后接动词不定式或 -ing 形式均可，在意义上无差别：◆I didn't start worrying/to worry until she was 2 hours late. 她晚了两小时还没到，我才开始担忧起来。
• After the forms beginning and starting, the -ing form of the verb is not normally used. * beginning 和 starting 之后一般不用动词的 -ing 形式：◆It's starting/beginning to rain. 开始下雨了。◆It's starting/beginning raining.

What can you say when you have to speak to someone for the first time or when you have to open a meeting? Here are some possible ways of starting a conversation or getting the audience's attention before a talk or speech. 与人初次交谈时打开话题，会议开始要讲话，或者演讲之前引起听众注意，可用以下方式：

• ◆ Do you mind if I sit here? 我坐在这儿可以吗？
• ◆ Hello, is this seat taken? 你好，这个座位有人吗？
• ◆ May I join you? Can I get you a coffee? 可以和你一起吗？我给你拿杯咖啡好吗？
• ◆ Lovely weather we're having!/Can you believe this rain/wind/cold/sunshine? 多好的天气呀！/真想不到会下这么大雨/刮这么大风/这么冷/阳光这么灿烂！
• ◆ Excuse me, could I ask you a question? 打扰一下，可以问您一个问题吗？
• ◆ Shall we make a start? I think it's almost three o'clock. (BrE) 我们马上开始好吗？我看都快三点了。
• ◆ Shall we get started? I'd like to introduce our speaker. (especially NAmE) 我们开始吧？我来介绍一下演讲人。
• ◆ I think everyone's here, so I'd like to welcome you to this conference. 我想大家都到齐了，在此我对出席本次会议的各位表示欢迎。

These words are all used to talk about things happening from the beginning, or people doing the first part of sth. 以上各词均用以指事情开始发生或开始做某事。

• start to begin to happen or exist; to begin in a particular way or from a particular point 指开始发生或存在、以…开始、以…为起点：◆When does the class start? 什么时候上课？
• begin to start to happen or exist; to start in a particular way or from a particular point; to start speaking 指开始发生或存在、以…开始、以…为起点、开始讲话：◆When does the concert begin? 音乐会什么时候开始？

start or begin? 用 start 还是 begin？

There is not much difference in meaning between these words. Start is more frequent in spoken English and in business contexts; begin is more frequent in written English and is often used when you are describing a series of events. 上述两词在意义上无多大差别，start 较常用于口语和商业语境中，begin 较常用于书面语中，描述一系列事情：◆The story begins on the island of Corfu. 故事从科孚岛开始。 Start is not used to mean 'begin speaking'. * start 不用以指开始讲话：◆'Ladies and gentlemen,' he started.

• start off (rather informal) to start happening or doing sth; to start by doing or being sth 指进行或开展起来、首先进行、一开始是：◆The discussion started off mildly enough. 讨论颇为温和地开展起来。
• kick off (informal) to start an event or activity, especially in a particular way; (of an event, activity, etc.) to start, especially in a particular way 尤指以…开始（活动）、（活动）以…开始：◆Tom will kick off with a few comments. 汤姆讲话时要先发表几点意见。◆The festival kicks off on Monday, September 13. 节期从 9 月 13 日星期一开始。
• commence (formal) to start happening 指开始发生：◆The meeting is scheduled to commence at noon. 会议定于午间召开。
• open to start an event or activity in a particular way; (of an event, a film/movie or a book) to start, especially in a particular way 指以…开始（活动）、（活动、电影或书）以…开头/开篇：◆The story opens with a murder. 故事以一宗谋杀案作序幕。

Patterns

• to start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open with sth
• to start/begin/start off/kick off/commence/open by doing sth
• to start/begin/start off/commence as sth
• a campaign/season/meeting starts/begins/starts off/kicks off/commences/opens
• a film/movie/book starts/begins/starts off/opens