Starts vs. Start — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 9, 2024
"Starts" is the third person singular form of the verb "start," while "start" can be a noun or base form of the verb.
Difference Between Starts and Start
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Start" serves as both a noun, referring to the beginning of an event or process, and as the base form of the verb, applicable in various tenses and structures. As a verb, it indicates the initiation of an action or movement. For instance, "to start a project" implies beginning work on the project. As a noun, "the start of the race" refers to the moment when the race begins. Whereas "starts" is specifically the third person singular present tense of the verb "start," used with subjects like he, she, or it. For example, "She starts her new job tomorrow."
The use of "start" is versatile, fitting into multiple grammatical roles and tenses, making it a foundational word in English vocabulary. Its applicability ranges from describing the initiation of abstract concepts, like relationships, to concrete actions, such as starting a car. On the other hand, "starts" is used in more specific contexts, primarily in present tense narratives or descriptions involving a singular subject performing an action currently or habitually.
In terms of grammar, "start" adapts to various tenses through conjugation, becoming "started" in the past tense and "starting" as a present participle or gerund. "Starts," however, remains fixed in its form and tense, conveying an action that is ongoing or regularly occurs in the present. This difference highlights the flexibility of "start" in conveying time and aspect of actions compared to the more time-specific use of "starts."
The choice between "start" and "starts" depends on the subject and the tense of the narrative. When discussing actions of singular, third-person subjects in the present tense, "starts" is appropriate. In contrast, "start" is used with first and second person subjects in the present tense, all subjects in the imperative mood, and as a noun.
Understanding the distinction is crucial in achieving grammatical accuracy and clarity in communication. Incorrectly using "start" instead of "starts" (or vice versa) can lead to errors in subject-verb agreement, a fundamental rule in English grammar that ensures verbs correspond correctly with their subjects in number and person.
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Comparison Chart
Grammatical Role
Third person singular present tense of the verb.
Noun or base form of the verb.
Usage
Indicates the initiation of an action by a third person singular subject.
Refers to the beginning of something or to initiate an action.
Example Sentence
"She starts her work at 9 AM."
"I want to start a garden." / "The start of the event was delayed."
Tense and Number
Used in the present tense with third person singular subjects.
Can be used in various tenses; adapts to all subjects except third person singular in present tense.
Flexibility
Limited, fixed in its form and tense.
High, due to its multiple roles and conjugations.
Compare with Definitions
Starts
Begins or initiates an action or process (third person singular).
He starts his day with a cup of coffee.
Start
The point in time or space at which something begins.
The start of the movie was exciting.
Starts
Marks the beginning of an event or activity by a third person singular.
The class starts at eight in the morning.
Start
The act of beginning something or causing something to begin.
It's time to start the presentation.
Starts
Causes something to begin or to be initiated by a third person singular subject.
She starts the engine before checking her messages.
Start
Beginning position in a race or competition.
He secured a good start position in the marathon.
Starts
Embarks on a journey or a new venture (third person singular).
Tomorrow, he starts his journey across the country.
Start
Used to indicate the initiation of an action (verb form).
They plan to start building the house next week.
Starts
Indicates the regular initiation of an action by a third person singular subject.
The computer automatically starts the update process at night.
Start
The initial stage of a process.
The start of her career was humble.
Starts
To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking
She started to dance. The dog started barking. Once we start in, we'll get a feel for the project.
Start
Begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space; come into being
We ate before the film started
The season starts in September
Below Roaring Springs the real desert starts
Starts
To move on the initial part of a journey
They started for the summit.
Start
Cause to happen or begin
Those women started all the trouble
I'm starting a campaign to get the law changed
Two men started the blaze
Starts
To have a beginning; commence
The movie starts at nine.
Start
Jerk or give a small jump from surprise or alarm
‘Oh my!’ she said, starting
Starts
To come quickly into view, life, or activity; spring forth
The boy's tears started when the balloon popped.
Start
The point in time or space at which something has its origin; the beginning
The event was a shambles from start to finish
He takes over as chief executive at the start of next year
His bicycle was found close to the start of a forest trail
Starts
To have as an initial part or job
I started as an assistant.
Start
A sudden movement of surprise or alarm
She awoke with a start
The woman gave a nervous start
Starts
To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily
Started at the loud noise.
Start
To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking
She started to dance. The dog started barking. Once we start in, we'll get a feel for the project.
Starts
(Sports) To be in the initial lineup of a game or race.
Start
To move on the initial part of a journey
They started for the summit.
Starts
To protrude or bulge
Eyes that fairly started from their sockets in fear.
Start
To have a beginning; commence
The movie starts at nine.
Starts
To become loosened or disengaged.
Start
To come quickly into view, life, or activity; spring forth
The boy's tears started when the balloon popped.
Starts
To take the first step in doing
We start work at dawn.
Start
To have as an initial part or job
I started as an assistant.
Starts
To cause to come into being; make happen or originate
Bad wiring started the fire. The website started the rumor.
Start
To move one's body or a part of it suddenly or involuntarily
Started at the loud noise.
Starts
To set into motion, operation, or activity
Start an engine.
A shot that started the race.
Start
(Sports) To be in the initial lineup of a game or race.
Starts
To begin to attend
Start school.
Start
To protrude or bulge
Eyes that fairly started from their sockets in fear.
Starts
To cause (someone) to have an initial position or role
The manager started him in marketing.
Start
To become loosened or disengaged.
Starts
To play in the initial lineup of (a game).
Start
To take the first step in doing
We start work at dawn.
Starts
To put (a player) into the initial lineup of a game.
Start
To cause to come into being; make happen or originate
Bad wiring started the fire. The website started the rumor.
Starts
To enter (a participant) into a race or game.
Start
To set into motion, operation, or activity
Start an engine.
A shot that started the race.
Starts
To found; establish
Start a business.
Start
To begin to attend
Start school.
Starts
To tend in an early stage of development
Start seedlings.
Start
To cause (someone) to have an initial position or role
The manager started him in marketing.
Starts
To rouse (game) from its hiding place or lair; flush.
Start
To play in the initial lineup of (a game).
Starts
To cause to become displaced or loosened.
Start
To put (a player) into the initial lineup of a game.
Starts
An act of beginning; an initial effort
I made a start on keeping a journal.
Start
To enter (a participant) into a race or game.
Starts
The beginning of a new construction project
An application for a building start.
Start
To found; establish
Start a business.
Starts
A result of an initial effort
What we did may not sound like much, but it's a start.
Start
To tend in an early stage of development
Start seedlings.
Starts
A place or time of beginning
At the start of the decade.
Start
To rouse (game) from its hiding place or lair; flush.
Starts
A starting line for a race.
Start
To cause to become displaced or loosened.
Starts
A signal to begin a race.
Start
An act of beginning; an initial effort
I made a start on keeping a journal.
Starts
An instance of beginning a race
A sprinter who improved her start.
Start
The beginning of a new construction project
An application for a building start.
Starts
An instance of being in the starting lineup for a game, especially as a pitcher
In five starts, he has three wins.
Start
A result of an initial effort
What we did may not sound like much, but it's a start.
Starts
A startled reaction or movement.
Start
A place or time of beginning
At the start of the decade.
Starts
A part that has become dislocated or loosened.
Start
A starting line for a race.
Starts
A position of advantage over others, as in a race or an endeavor; a lead
Our rivals have a three-month start in research.
Start
A signal to begin a race.
Starts
An opportunity granted to pursue a career or course of action.
Start
An instance of beginning a race
A sprinter who improved her start.
Starts
Plural of start
Start
An instance of being in the starting lineup for a game, especially as a pitcher
In five starts, he has three wins.
Start
A startled reaction or movement.
Start
A part that has become dislocated or loosened.
Start
A position of advantage over others, as in a race or an endeavor; a lead
Our rivals have a three-month start in research.
Start
An opportunity granted to pursue a career or course of action.
Start
The beginning of an activity.
The movie was entertaining from start to finish.
Start
A sudden involuntary movement.
He woke with a start.
Start
The beginning point of a race, a board game, etc.
Captured pieces are returned to the start of the board.
Start
An appearance in a sports game, horserace, etc., from the beginning of the event.
Jones has been a substitute before, but made his first start for the team last Sunday.
Start
(horticulture) A young plant germinated in a pot to be transplanted later.
Start
An initial advantage over somebody else; a head start.
To get, or have, the start
Start
A happening or proceeding.
Start
An instance of starting.
Start
A projection or protrusion; that which pokes out.
Start
A handle, especially that of a plough.
Start
The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water wheel bucket.
Start
The arm, or level, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
Start
(transitive) To begin, commence, initiate.
Start
To set in motion.
To start a stream of water;
To start a rumour;
To start a business
Start
To begin.
Start
To ready the operation of a vehicle or machine.
To start the engine
Start
To put or raise (a question, an objection); to put forward (a subject for discussion).
Start
To bring onto being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Start
(intransitive) To begin an activity.
The rain started at 9:00.
Start
(intransitive) To have its origin (at), begin.
The speed limit is 50 km/h, starting at the edge of town.
The blue line starts one foot away from the wall.
Start
To startle or be startled; to move or be moved suddenly.
Start
(intransitive) To jerk suddenly in surprise.
Start
(intransitive) To awaken suddenly.
Start
(transitive) To disturb and cause to move suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly.
The hounds started a fox.
Start
(intransitive) To flinch or draw back.
Start
(transitive) To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate.
To start a bone;
The storm started the bolts in the vessel
Start
(intransitive) To break away, to come loose.
Start
To put into play.
Start
To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from.
To start a water cask
Start
To start one's periods (menstruation).
Have you started yet?
Start
To leap; to jump.
Start
To move suddenly, as with a spring or leap, from surprise, pain, or other sudden feeling or emotion, or by a voluntary act.
And maketh him out of his sleep to start.
I start as from some dreadful dream.
Keep your soul to the work when ready to start aside.
But if he start,It is the flesh of a corrupted heart.
Start
To set out; to commence a course, as a race or journey; to begin; as, to start in business.
At once they start, advancing in a line.
At intervals some bird from out the brakesStarts into voice a moment, then is still.
Start
To become somewhat displaced or loosened; as, a rivet or a seam may start under strain or pressure.
Start
To cause to move suddenly; to disturb suddenly; to startle; to alarm; to rouse; to cause to flee or fly; as, the hounds started a fox.
Upon malicious bravery dost thou comeTo start my quiet?
Brutus will start a spirit as soon as Cæsar.
Start
To bring into being or into view; to originate; to invent.
Sensual men agree in the pursuit of every pleasure they can start.
Start
To cause to move or act; to set going, running, or flowing; as, to start a railway train; to start a mill; to start a stream of water; to start a rumor; to start a business.
I was engaged in conversation upon a subject which the people love to start in discourse.
Start
To move suddenly from its place or position; to displace or loosen; to dislocate; as, to start a bone; the storm started the bolts in the vessel.
One, by a fall in wrestling, started the end of the clavicle from the sternum.
Start
To pour out; to empty; to tap and begin drawing from; as, to start a water cask.
Start
The act of starting; a sudden spring, leap, or motion, caused by surprise, fear, pain, or the like; any sudden motion, or beginning of motion.
The fright awakened Arcite with a start.
Start
A convulsive motion, twitch, or spasm; a spasmodic effort.
For she did speak in starts distractedly.
Nature does nothing by starts and leaps, or in a hurry.
Start
A sudden, unexpected movement; a sudden and capricious impulse; a sally; as, starts of fancy.
To check the starts and sallies of the soul.
Start
The beginning, as of a journey or a course of action; first motion from a place; act of setting out; the outset; - opposed to finish.
The start of first performance is all.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,Straining upon the start.
At a start he was betwixt them two.
Start
A tail, or anything projecting like a tail.
Start
The handle, or tail, of a plow; also, any long handle.
Start
The curved or inclined front and bottom of a water-wheel bucket.
Start
The arm, or lever, of a gin, drawn around by a horse.
Start
A Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union which provided for stepwise reductions in the number of nuclear weapons possessed by each country.
Start
The beginning of anything;
It was off to a good start
Start
The time at which something is supposed to begin;
They got an early start
She knew from the get-go that he was the man for her
Start
A turn to be a starter (in a game at the beginning);
He got his start because one of the regular pitchers was in the hospital
His starting meant that the coach thought he was one of their best linemen
Start
A sudden involuntary movement;
He awoke with a start
Start
The act of starting something;
He was responsible for the beginning of negotiations
Start
A line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game
Start
A signal to begin (as in a race);
The starting signal was a green light
The runners awaited the start
Start
Advantage gained by an early start as in a race;
With an hour's start he will be hard to catch
Start
Take the first step or steps in carrying out an action;
We began working at dawn
Who will start?
Get working as soon as the sun rises!
The first tourists began to arrive in Cambodia
He began early in the day
Let's get down to work now
Start
Set in motion, cause to start;
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The Iraqis began hostilities
Begin a new chapter in your life
Start
Leave;
The family took off for Florida
Start
Have a beginning, in a temporal, spatial, or evaluative sense;
The DMZ begins right over the hill
The second movement begins after the Allegro
Prices for these homes start at $250,000
Start
Bring into being;
He initiated a new program
Start a foundation
Start
Get off the ground;
Who started this company?
We embarked on an exciting enterprise
I start my day with a good breakfast
We began the new semester
The afternoon session begins at 4 PM
The blood shed started when the partisans launched a surprise attack
Start
Move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm;
She startled when I walked into the room
Start
Get going or set in motion;
We simply could not start the engine
Start up the computer
Start
Begin or set in motion;
I start at eight in the morning
Ready, set, go!
Start
Begin work or acting in a certain capacity, office or job;
Take up a position
Start a new job
Start
Play in the starting line-up
Start
Have a beginning characterized in some specified way;
The novel begins with a murder
My property begins with the three maple trees
Her day begins with a work-out
The semester begins with a convocation ceremony
Start
Begin an event that is implied and limited by the nature or inherent function of the direct object;
Begin a cigar
She started the soup while it was still hot
We started physics in 10th grade
Common Curiosities
Is "start" ever used in the past tense?
Yes, but it changes form to "started" to indicate past actions (e.g., "They started the project last month.").
How is "starts" different from "start"?
"Starts" is specifically used for the third person singular present tense, indicating an action initiated by he, she, or it.
Can "start" be used for plural subjects?
Yes, "start" is used with plural subjects, first person singular (I), and second person singular or plural (you), especially in the present tense.
Can both "start" and "starts" be used in commands or requests?
In commands or requests, the base form "start" is used, regardless of the subject (e.g., "Start the car, please.").
What does "start" mean?
"Start" can refer to the beginning of something (noun) or the act of initiating something (verb).
How does context affect the choice between "start" and "starts"?
Context such as subject pronoun (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) and tense (present, past, future) determines the correct choice between "start" and "starts."
When should I use "starts" in a sentence?
Use "starts" when the subject of the sentence is a third person singular noun or pronoun, like "he," "she," or "it," in the present tense.
Is there a difference in meaning between "start" and "starts"?
The core meaning remains the same, referring to the initiation of an action or event. The difference lies in their grammatical use related to subject and tense.
Can "start" be a noun in any context?
Yes, "start" can be a noun indicating the beginning of an event, process, or period in time (e.g., "The start was delayed by rain.").
Why is understanding the difference between "start" and "starts" important?
It's essential for proper subject-verb agreement in English, ensuring grammatical accuracy and clarity in communication.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
