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

Ordering your points 梳理要点

• ◆This study has the following aims: first, to investigate how international students in the UK use humour; second, to examine how jokes can help to establish social relationships; and, third, to explore the role that humour plays in helping overseas students adjust to life in the UK. 本研究有以下几个目的：第一，调查在英国的留学生如何运用幽默；第二，考察笑话如何帮助建立社交关系；第三，探究幽默对留学生适应英国生活所起的作用。
• ◆ Let us begin by identifying some of the popular joke genres in the UK. 首先我们来探究一下流行于英国的一些笑话类型。
• ◆ Next, let us turn to / Next, let us consider the question of gender differences in the use of humour. 接下来，我们来探讨一下运用幽默的性别差异问题。
• ◆ Finally / Lastly, let us briefly examine the role of humour in defining a nation's culture. 最后，我们来简略地探讨一下幽默在界定民族文化中所起的作用。

• 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.