English Grammar Explained To A Foreigner

Dear Mel, it's FP here.

I hope you had a good Easter. I know I did.

I wonder if you could please enlighten me about this thing that has been nagging me for quite some time now:

Is it "started" or "startled"?

For example,

Jenna snuck up behind Ben. He started.
or
Jenna snuck up behind Ben. He startled.

Is either correct? Which one is to prefer? Does U.S English differ from UK English in this case?


Thank you for your time,
Best Regards,

FP

Mel's Comment:

Dear FP,   Good to hear from you.  We've had (and are still having) a wonderful Easter.  In fact, my husband is still lying outside on the patio in the sunshine at 5.30pm!   In your two examples, the first is correct; the second is completely wrong.  However, you could say: Jenna snuck up behind Ben.  He *was* startled.  (UK English would say: Jenna *sneaked* up behind Ben . . .  *snuck* is US English).   Started has many meanings.  As well as meaning "began" (past tense of begin) it also means "jumped" or made a sudden movement brought about by pain or surprise.   Startle is a verb, meaning to give a shock or surprise to someone, or to cause a person to *start*.  

• You can say "he started" (verb) as a complete sentence, meaning he jumped because he was surprised / hurt.  "I grabbed his broken arm.  He started."
• You can say "she started making dinner" (verb) meaning she began to prepare the meal.
• You can say "he started her / him" but it would have to be followed by whatever was the object of the sentence - hence: "he started her on her multiplication tables, then left her to complete them."
• You can say "he startled" (verb) but it would have to be followed by "her" or "him" because this is something that the subject of the sentence does *to* a person / thing.  Hence: "he came out from behind a tree and startled her."  Or "he startled her when he came out from behind a tree."
• You can also say "he *was* startled" (describing a person's reaction to someone/something).  "He was startled when she started the car behind him."

Hope that helps.  US English and UK English are alike in this case.  Have a good week.