start 表示\"开始\",其内涵是\"启程\"。例如,\"那次会议是上星期开始的\"(The meeting began last week.)会议是个\"过程\",在这个意义上用 begin 恰当;而\"千里之行始于足下\"(A thousand-li journey is started by taking the first step.)所包含的意义是启步, 所以用 start 恰当。
He started to complain about this wicked world…
他开始抱怨这万恶的世道了。……
begin 表示\"开始\",其内涵是\"使处于进程中\"
Work on it had begun before my sister left.
这座房子在我姐姐离开之前就已经动工了。
Almost immediately he began to complain about the weather,…
他几乎马上便开始抱怨天气了,……