"once having begun"="once it has begun"?

Question

The research is so designed that once begun nothing can be done to change it.I know "once begining" or "once having begun" doesn't work here.But I am still wondering that if "once having begun" and "once it has begun" are interchangeable grammatically and if "once beginning" amounts to "once it begins"? If that is the case, why not say "once beginning" or "once having begun" since we can say "once it has begun" or "once it begins"? The understanding is deeply rooted in my mind. I don't know if my understanding is wrong? Cold you please explain it? Thank you.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

zuotengdazuoBut I am still wondering that if "once having begun" and "once it has begun" are interchangeable grammatically

Grammatically, yes, but the latter is very awkward compared to the former.

zuotengdazuoand if "once beginning" amounts to "once it begins"?

The grammar is different there (no subject in the former), so it may depend upon the matrix sentence. In yours:

The research is so designed that once begun nothing can be done to change it.
The research is so designed that once beginning nothing can be done to change it.
The research is so designed that once having begun nothing can be done to change it.
The research is so designed that once it has begun nothing can be done to change it.
The research is so designed that once it begins nothing can be done to change it.

hose are all grammatically possible, but any level-headed writer would choose the simplest, clearest version, which to me is the first or the last.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

Thank you first.

Grammatically, yes, but the latter is very awkward compared to the former.

I thought it is the former(once having begun) that is awkward? The latter seems ok.

The grammar is different there (no subject in the former)

What I tried to ask is "Are "once beginning" and "once it begins" interchangeable"?

Mister Micawber · Answer

They are all interchangeable in those sentences.  I cannot say that any of them are always interchangeable.

Zuotengdazuo · Answer

Thank you. I see.

"once having begun"="once it has begun"?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions