I started reading a book yesterday or I started to read a book yesterday

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Which of the two is correct?

I started reading a book yesterday.
or
I started to read a book yesterday.

For most of my english speaking years, Tenses has always been my downfall. Ive been reading grammar explanations on the net to improve my english and so far it has improved my tenses by a distinguishable notch but I still find that some things were left unexplained.

I hope someone can point me to the right terminology for the sample sentences Ive posted. Most of the explanations I found on the net has “was” in place of “started”.

2

Im so tense, I forgot to say thank you!

3

Hi, Apandainatutu

According to “English Grammar in Use” by Raymond Murphy, both of them are possible

good luck

4

Hey thanks for the book suggestion! I was browsing through Amazon just a moment ago and I couldn’t decide which book to pick. Thanks for the push in the right direction!

5

Don’t mention :slight_smile:

6

Hi Apandainatutu,

There is little difference in the meaning of the two constructions. Some verbs are followed by the infinitive or gerund only and some can take either. ‘Start’ is an example of the latter. All I can say is that ‘start to do soemthing’ suggests for the very first time and ‘start doing something’ suggests that you begin something without any particular purpose or for any particular reason. Generally the infinitive indicates something specific and the gerund something general.

Alan

7

Thank you Alan for the detailed response!