"È cominciato dieci minuti fa."

Translation: It began ten minutes ago.

[peterb12]

Seems to me that "He began 10 minutes ago" should also be acceptable.

[swntzu]

Hi, there was the basically the same sentence but using "iniziato" in a previous lesson. From what someone said on the discussion for that, using essere instead of avere to conjugate comminciare makes it mean that the thing itself has started (becoming more like an adjective).

[Abelie]

What is wrong with the direct translation of 'commenced'?
It commenced ten minutes ago = started and began.

[birkos]

He began or he commenced 10 minutes ago seems right to my simple mind

[aliceuh]

What is more natural, "cominciare" or "iniziare" ?

[funnyiloveitaly2]

Why not he commenced ten minutes ago?