start,begin,continue,cease這樣一些表示開始,繼續(xù)和結(jié)束意義的動詞,既可以接to do ,也可以接V-doing,大體上說,意義沒有明顯的差別.但在某些有限的情況下,start to do sth 意思是指“開始去做某事”,有“潛在的可能”；start doing sth 意思是指“開始做某事”,有“實際進(jìn)行”的意思.當(dāng)涉及到多次活動時使用start doing更為恰當(dāng).
1) 談及一項長期活動或開始一種習(xí)慣時,使用doing.
How old were you when you first started playing the piano?
你幾歲時開始彈鋼琴?
2) begin,start用進(jìn)行時時,后面動詞用不定式to do
I was beginning to get angry.
我開始生起氣來.
3) 在attempt,intend,begin,start 后接know,understand,realize這類動詞時,常用不定式to do.
I begin to understand the truth.
我開始明白真相.
4) 物作主語時
It began to melt.