Does began have a short vowel sound?

No, "began" does not have a short vowel sound. It has a long e sound, similar to the "e" in "see" or "bee".

Here's why:

* The "a" in "began" is followed by a consonant ("g") and a silent "e". This is a common pattern in English words that indicates a long vowel sound.

* The "e" at the end of the word is silent, but it lengthens the vowel sound of the "a".

Therefore, the sound of "began" is be-GAN (with the "a" sounding like the "a" in "say").