comezar a / poñerse a
Starting Actions
Comezar a and empezar a + infinitive mean to begin doing something, and poñerse a presents the start as the moment someone gets going, as in Comezou a chover (It started to rain) and Púxose a chorar (She started to cry).
How It Works
Comezar and empezar: interchangeable. Both change z to c before e: comecei, empecei (I started). See spelling changes in verbs.
Poñerse a: often a sudden start, or a decision to get going: De súpeto, o can púxose a ladrar (Suddenly the dog started barking), Chegou á horta e púxose a traballar (He got to the garden and set to work). It uses the irregular preterite of poñer: púxenme, puxécheste, púxose.
Pronoun placement: in a plain statement the pronoun of poñerse follows the verb: Púxose a chorar, never starting the sentence with it. After non it goes first: Non se puxo a chorar. See pronouns after the verb.
With a noun: comezar and empezar also work without an infinitive: Comezou a clase (The class started). Here a is the article, and a clase is the subject.
Related: botar a stresses an especially sudden start (Botou a correr, he broke into a run). To stop an action, use deixar de.
Examples (6)
- Comezou a chover.
It started to rain.
Word by Word: Began to rain.
- Púxose a chorar.
She started to cry.
Word by Word: Put-herself to cry.
Poñerse a marks the moment the crying began.
- Empecei a estudar galego o ano pasado.
I started studying Galician last year.
Word by Word: Began-I to study Galician the year past.
Empezar a means the same as comezar a.
- Mañá comezo a traballar nun hotel.
Tomorrow I start working in a hotel.
Word by Word: Tomorrow begin-I to work in-a hotel.
- De súpeto, o can púxose a ladrar.
Suddenly the dog started barking.
Word by Word: Of sudden, the dog put-itself to bark.
- Os convidados empezan a chegar.
The guests are starting to arrive.
Word by Word: The guests begin to arrive.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out a before the infinitive.
Comezou chover.Comezou a chover.Comezar, empezar and poñerse all need a before the infinitive.
Starting the sentence with the pronoun.
Se puxo a chorar.Púxose a chorar.A Galician sentence never begins with an unstressed pronoun. In a plain statement it follows the verb.
Keeping z before e in the preterite.
Comezei a traballar ás oito.Comecei a traballar ás oito.Before e, the z of comezar and empezar is written c: comecei, empecei.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Beginning constructions use a before the infinitive and may include a pronominal verb.
Related Patterns
- botar a + InfinitiveSuddenly Starting: Botar a
Another way to mark a sudden start: Botou a correr.
Level 4 - deixar de + InfinitiveStopping: Deixar De
The opposite: stopping an action.
Level 3 - estar a piques deAbout to: Estar a Piques De
The moment just before an action starts.
Level 3 - Spelling Changes in Verb Forms
Explains comecei and empecei.
Level 3 - Pronouns After the Verb
Why the pronoun of poñerse follows the verb in púxose a chorar.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice comezar a / poñerse a in Bubblegum
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