They both mean to start with, but which one is normally used for what situation ?Â
Commencer (to begin) is a semi-regular French verb.
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Lessons with more detail on Commencer (to begin)
Q&A Forum 1 question, 1 answer
Commencer par -- to begin by.... This is used when one starts with a certain action which is the first of a series of actions.
Commençons par ouvrir nos livres. -- Let's start by opening our books.
Then there is commencer à or commencer de. They mean the same and differ only in register, with commencer de belonging to a slightly higher register of language.
Il a commencé à chanter à l'âge de 7 ans.. -- He started singing at age seven.
Commencer avec is, according to the source below, incorrect.
https://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/expressions-francaises/2017/11/12/37003-20171112ARTFIG00021-commencer-avec-ne-faites-plus-la-faute.php
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