Hakkama, Algama, Alustama

[Joseph2006]

Hello to any native Estonian speaker!

I'm trying to distinguish the shades of meaning between these three verbs: hakkama, algama, alustama.

Could some native speaker perhaps use each of these verbs in a sentence or two? and perhaps explain a bit what the nuances of meaning are? I do know that each of the three has the sense of "to begin".

But I am only "beginning" to see their complete meanings.

Thanks.

[Ada H.]

hakkama, algama, alustama

hakkama - to start doing something
Ma hakkan eesti keelt õppima - I'll start learning Estonian
Vihma hakkas sadama - It started to rain
Suureks saades hakkan ma arstiks - I will become a doctor when I grow up

algama - to begin
Kontsert algab kell seitse - The concert begins (will begin) at 7 o'clock.

alustama - to start
Valitsus alustas läbirääkimisi streikijatega - The government started negotiations with the strikers.
Ta alustas õpingutega kolm aastat tagasi - He started with the studies three years ago.

[Joseph2006]

hakkama, algama, alustama

hakkama - to start doing something
Ma hakkan eesti keelt õppima - I'll start learning Estonian
Vihma hakkas sadama - It started to rain
Suureks saades hakkan ma arstiks - I will become a doctor when I grow up

algama - to begin
Kontsert algab kell seitse - The concert begins (will begin) at 7 o'clock.

alustama - to start
Valitsus alustas läbirääkimisi streikijatega - The government started negotiations with the strikers.
Ta alustas õpingutega kolm aastat tagasi - He started with the studies three years ago.

Ma tänan, Ada.

Ülikool algab 4 septembril.
Ma hakkan töötama uues töös homme.
Ma alustasin tarvitama seda forum nädal tagasi.

The university starts on the fourth of September.
I start a new job tomorrow.
I started to use this forum a week ago.

[Loiks]

hakkama, algama, alustama

hakkama - to start doing something
Ma hakkan eesti keelt õppima - I'll start learning Estonian
Vihma hakkas sadama - It started to rain
Suureks saades hakkan ma arstiks - I will become a doctor when I grow up

algama - to begin
Kontsert algab kell seitse - The concert begins (will begin) at 7 o'clock.

alustama - to start
Valitsus alustas läbirääkimisi streikijatega - The government started negotiations with the strikers.
Ta alustas õpingutega kolm aastat tagasi - He started with the studies three years ago.

Ma tänan, Ada.

Ülikool algab 4 septembril.
Ma hakkan töötama uues töös homme.
Ma alustasin tarvitama seda forum nädal tagasi.

The university starts on the fourth of September.
I start a new job tomorrow.
I started to use this forum a week ago.

Ülikool algab 4. septembril.
Ma hakkan töötama uues töökohas/uuel tööl homme.
Ma hakkasin kasutama seda foorumit nädal tagasi.

[Ada H.]

It seems that hakkama usually is followed by ma-infinitive and together they form a complex predicate:
hakkasin õppima
hakkasin tegelema spordiga
hakkasin dieeti pidama
An idiomatic exception seems to be hakkasin tööle

Alustama seems to be usually followed by an object (or an adverbial):
alustasin juttu
alustasin õpinguid/õpingutega
alustasin treenimist
but also
alustasin a-st ja b-st

However I wouldn't dare to call it a rule.