Starting and Ending Actions
This page explains how to express starting and finishing actions. As these verb forms represent states, you will mostly use が. You should use は only if it is a general behavior.
はじめる
To start X
Verb ます Stem + はじめる
始める(はじめる) is a verb on its own that literally means “to begin (something). It can attach directly to a ます stem to mean “start an action”. This should use が。
- 読みはじめる – Start to read.
- 食べはじめる – Start to eat.
- 先生が読みはじめた – The teacher started reading.
- 山を登り始めた – Started climbing the mountain.
だす
To suddenly X
Verb ます Stem + はじめる
だす is very similar to はじめる in that it indicates the start of an action; However だす emphasizes a sudden and forceful start. This is the kind of start that surprises other people.
- 子供がどうろにとびだした – The child jumped out in the road (suddenly). ← very common usage
- 雨がふりだした – It suddenly started raining. ← very common usage.
- 彼が急に歌いだした – He suddenly started singing
- 読みだした ✖？ – Suddenly started reading – (If reading out loud its ok, otherwise it’s wrong).
- 走りだした – Suddenly started running. (panic?)
だす as a verb means “to put out” something, and this meaning sometimes carries over.
This usually only happens with specific verbs, like “Jump Out”.
- 動物はよくとびだす – Animals often jump out.
おわる
To finish X
Verb ます Stem + はじめる
終わる(おわる) means “to finish” and when attached a verb unsurprisingly means “to finish an action”.
It is frequently used with やっと (at long last).
- 歌い終わった – Finished singing.
- 読み終わる – Finish reading.
- 食べ終わった – Finished eating.
- ウエブサイトはやっと作り終わった – Finally finished making the website.
つづける
To continue doing X
Verb ます Stem + はじめる
つづける means to continue. This is usually used when there is an expectation that the action will not continue. A common use is someone is doing something while ignoring something else.
It is frequently used with ても.
- 読みつづける – Continue reading.
- 食べつづける – Continue eating.
- 座りつづける – Continue sitting.
- 地震が起こっても、食べ続けた – Even though there was an earthquake, he continued eating.
- 20時になっても、かれは働きつづけた – Even though it was 8 p.m., he continued to work.
- 80歳になっても、働き続ける – Keep working even though they are 80.