began to do和 began doing的具體含義不同，前者是開始打算要做某事，是指事情還未做，準備開始做；后者是指開始做某事，表示動作正在進行。begin后接動詞不定式時多強調(diào)新情況的發(fā)生，動作是否繼續(xù)下去則不考慮。接動名詞時，對新動作本身注意較多，而且這動作還將持續(xù)一段時間。

You can't begin to imagine how much that saddens me.

你都無從想象這讓我有多悲傷。

If relations between Hanoi and Washington begin to normalise, anything is possible.

如果河內(nèi)和華盛頓之間的關系開始恢復正常，任何事情都有可能。

You begin to ask yourself what kind of person perpetrated this crime.

你開始自問是什么樣的人犯下這樣的罪行。

Some analysts believe that the government soon will begin relaxing economic controls.

一些分析人士認為政府不久將開始放松經(jīng)濟管制。

When the aims of the partners begin to diverge, there'strouble.

當合作伙伴的目標開始出現(xiàn)分歧時，麻煩就產(chǎn)生了。