mettersi a + Infinitive
'Mettersi A' + Infinitive (To Start Doing)
The construction mettersi a + infinitive means 'to start doing something.' It is more expressive than the basic cominciare, often implying that the subject is 'getting down to' a task or suddenly 'bursting into' an action.
How It Works
The phrase mettersi a is an 'ingressive' periphrasis, meaning it focuses on the beginning of an action. While cominciare a is neutral, mettersi a carries specific nuances:
- Deliberate Effort: It often suggests 'setting about' a task that requires concentration, like studying or working.
- Sudden Onset: It is the standard way to describe someone suddenly starting to cry (mettersi a piangere) or laugh (mettersi a ridere).
- Weather: It is idiomatic for weather changes, implying a sudden start (si è messo a piovere).
Grammar Rules:
1. Reflexive Pronouns: You must use the correct reflexive pronoun (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si) matching the subject.
2. Auxiliary Verb: In the passato prossimo, always use essere.
3. Agreement: The past participle messo must agree in gender and number with the subject (e.g., lei si è messa).
4. Preposition: Always use a. Before a verb starting with 'a', it may become ad (e.g., mettersi ad ascoltare).
Examples (4)
- Appena ha visto il film, si è messo a piangere.
As soon as he saw the movie, he started crying.
Word by Word: As soon as he has seen the movie, himself is put to cry.
Here, 'si è messo a' indicates a spontaneous emotional reaction.
- Dobbiamo metterci a studiare per l'esame di domani.
We need to get down to studying for tomorrow's exam.
Word by Word: We must put ourselves to study for the exam of tomorrow.
This shows the nuance of 'setting about' a task that requires effort.
- Prendi l'ombrello, si sta mettendo a piovere!
Take the umbrella, it's starting to rain!
Word by Word: Take the umbrella, itself is putting to rain!
This uses the present progressive to show the rain is just beginning.
- Perché ti sei messa a gridare all'improvviso?
Why did you start screaming all of a sudden?
Word by Word: Why yourself are you put to scream at the sudden?
Note the agreement of the past participle 'messa' with a female subject.
Common Mistakes
Using 'avere' instead of 'essere' in past tenses.
Ho messo a lavorare alle otto.Mi sono messo a lavorare alle otto.Since 'mettersi' is a reflexive verb, it requires the auxiliary 'essere' and the reflexive pronoun.
Using the wrong preposition (like 'di') before the infinitive.
Si è messo di correre.Si è messo a correre.While verbs like 'smettere' take 'di', 'mettersi' always requires 'a'.
Using 'mettersi a' for rain that has not started yet.
Different MeaningGuarda quelle nuvole: si mette a piovere.Guarda quelle nuvole: sta per piovere.'Mettersi a' means the action has actually begun, whereas 'stare per' means it is just about to happen.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'mettersi a + infinito', a learner needs to be comfortable with reflexive verb mechanics (both in the present and past tenses) and the general structure of connecting two verbs using a preposition.
- Verb + Infinitive
This pattern is a specific construction where a conjugated verb is followed by a preposition and an infinitive, a general concept the learner should already be familiar with.
Level 1 - Reflexive Verbs in the Passato Prossimo
Since 'mettersi a' is frequently used in the past tense to describe starting an action, understanding how reflexive verbs form the passato prossimo with 'essere' is essential.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- cominciare a / finire di + Infinitive'Cominciare A' / 'Finire Di' + Infinitive
Cominciare a is the neutral alternative to mettersi a for starting an action.
Level 3 - stare per + Infinitive'Stare Per' + Infinitive (About to)
Stare per indicates an action is 'about to' happen, while mettersi a indicates it has 'just started'.
Level 2 - Weather Expressions
Mettersi a is frequently used with weather verbs to describe sudden changes in conditions.
Level 1 - continuare a / smettere di + Infinitive'Continuare A' / 'Smettere Di' + Infinitive
These are other aspectual verbs that describe the continuation or end of an action.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice mettersi a + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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