Which word should replace the underlined word? “By the time we got to the theater, the movie had already [began].”
Use Standard Grammar, Usage, and Spelling to Edit · TELPAS Grades 6–7 writing. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 2: find and fix an error in a short text. On the real test some of these are typed answers or sentence rewrites. Here they are multiple choice so they can be checked.
The question
Read the sentence. The underlined part has an error.
By the time we got to the theater, the movie had already [began]. Which word should replace the underlined word?
- beginning
- begins
- begin
- begunCorrect answer
Why “begun” is correct
This tests irregular past participles. After "had," "has," or "have," a verb uses its past participle, and for "begin" that is "begun" (begin, began, begun). "Began" is the simple past, used without a helping verb, as in "the movie began." English learners often mix up these two forms with irregular verbs like begin, swim, and sing.
Why the other answers are wrong
- beginning — "Had beginning" is not correct; after "had," the verb needs its past participle form.
- begins — "Begins" is present tense and cannot follow "had."
- begin — "Had begin" uses the base form, but "had" needs the past participle.
Practice more of this
More writing practice for Grades 6–7, or see the TELPAS practice test for 6th and 7th grade.
This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Texas Education Agency or the official TELPAS program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published test design.