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Prepositions with nouns

Prepositions used with beginning

Beginning appears in several fixed expressions. Some combinations are common and natural, while others are limited or context-specific.

Quick answer

Common uses with beginning

Use from the beginning for starting points, at the beginning for an early stage, and the beginning of for what starts. Before the beginning and without beginning are possible in specific meanings. To beginning is generally not idiomatic.

I knew the answer from the beginning.
At the beginning of the film, everyone was quiet.
The story starts with the beginning of her childhood.
The ritual existed without beginning or end in the myth.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
from the beginning

Starting point in time or process

Use from the beginning to mean since the start.

She supported us from the beginning.
2
the beginning of + noun

Identifying the first part

Use the beginning of before a period, event, or text.

We missed the beginning of the meeting.
3
at the beginning

An early stage

Use at the beginning for the initial stage of something.

Everything seemed easy at the beginning.
4
before the beginning

Earlier than the start

Use before the beginning when comparing time to a starting point.

Please arrive before the beginning of the ceremony.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
from the beginning
He understood the problem from the beginning.
since the start
the beginning of
The beginning of the book is slow.
the first part of something
without beginning
The philosopher described time as without beginning.
having no starting point
before the beginning
There was silence before the beginning of the concert.
earlier than the start
to beginning
They moved to beginning the project.
not a standard combination with the noun beginning; use to begin or the beginning of instead

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using to beginning as a noun phrase

Beginning does not normally follow to directly as a noun phrase.

✕ We looked forward to beginning of the show. ✓ We looked forward to the beginning of the show.

Confusing from the beginning and at the beginning

From the beginning means since the start. At the beginning refers to one point near the start.

✕ I lived there at the beginning. ✓ I lived there from the beginning.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She trusted him ___ .
2. We missed ___ the movie.
3. Everything was confusing ___ .

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Frequently asked questions

Is to beginning correct?

Not usually. Use to begin for a verb or the beginning of for a noun phrase.

Can I say without beginning?

Yes, especially in philosophical or literary contexts meaning having no starting point.

What is the difference between at the beginning and in the beginning?

At the beginning refers to the early part of something specific. In the beginning often refers to the start of a story, process, or historical period.

for, admission, of, admission "for adoption", "of adoption" or "to adoption"? "for answer" or "of answer"? "for approval" or "of approval"? for, at, after, to or before lunch? "for breakfast" or "after breakfast"? "for collection" or "of collection"? "for dad" or "with dad"? for, during, in, of or with period? "for enforcement" or "of enforcement"? "for examination" or "of examination"? "for generation" or "of generation"?

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