romper a + Infinitive
Burst into
'Romper a + infinitive' means 'to suddenly start' or 'to burst into' doing something.
How It Works
The verbal periphrasis romper a + infinitivo is a powerful way to describe the sudden onset of an action. While other phrases like ponerse a + infinitive also mean 'to start doing something', 'romper a' carries a stronger connotation of abruptness, force, or spontaneity.
Key Characteristics:
- Suddenness: The onset is presented as abrupt, even if the event was expected.
- Intensity: It often implies a strong emotional release or a forceful natural event.
- Common Verbs: It is frequently paired with verbs of emotional expression or sound, such as llorar (to cry), reír (to laugh), gritar (to shout), hablar (to speak), or natural phenomena like llover (to rain).
Comparison with Similar Structures:
- Ponerse a + infinitivo: This is a more general way to say 'to start'. It can be used for a broader range of activities, including planned ones. Ex: Me puse a limpiar la casa. (I started to clean the house.)
- Echarse a + infinitivo: It also marks onset, with conventional combinations such as echarse a correr, llorar or reír. Ex: Se echó a correr. (He took off running.)
- Romper a + infinitivo: Best for sudden, often audible or emotional outbursts. Ex: Rompió a llorar. (She burst into tears.)
While common in narrative and spoken Spanish, it can have a slightly more literary or emphatic feel than 'ponerse a'.
Examples (5)
- Al oír la triste noticia, rompió a llorar desconsoladamente.
Upon hearing the sad news, she burst into tears inconsolably.
Word by Word: Upon hearing the sad news, she broke to cry inconsolably.
- Cuando conté el chiste, todos rompieron a reír a carcajadas.
When I told the joke, everyone burst out laughing loudly.
Word by Word: When I told the joke, everyone broke to laugh at loud laughs.
- De repente, el cielo se oscureció y rompió a llover con fuerza.
Suddenly, the sky darkened and it started to pour down with force.
Word by Word: Suddenly, the sky darkened itself and it broke to rain with force.
- El niño, frustrado con el juguete, rompió a gritar.
The child, frustrated with the toy, burst into shouting.
Word by Word: The child, frustrated with the toy, broke to shout.
- Tras un largo silencio en la reunión, el jefe rompió a hablar.
After a long silence in the meeting, the boss suddenly started to speak.
Word by Word: After a long silence in the meeting, the boss broke to speak.
Common Mistakes
Using a strongly marked onset expression for an ordinary beginning.
Ayer rompí a estudiar para el examen.Ayer me puse a estudiar para el examen.For the ordinary meaning I started studying, use empezar a or ponerse a. Romper a estudiar is unusual and could be a deliberate expressive extension; a planned action is not logically incompatible with a sudden onset.
Confusing it with 'romper con', which means 'to break up with'.
Ella rompió a su novio.Ella rompió con su novio.The preposition changes the meaning entirely. 'Romper a + infinitive' means to start an action, while 'romper con + noun' means to end a relationship or break with a tradition.
Related Patterns
- ponerse a + InfinitiveStart Doing (Suddenly)
Both mean 'to start doing something', but 'romper a' is for sudden, abrupt, and often emotional actions, while 'ponerse a' is more general and can be used for planned activities.
Level 5 - echarse a + InfinitiveStart Doing (Abruptly)
Both mark onset in conventional combinations. Echarse a correr refers to movement, but echarse a llorar/reír is also common, so emotional versus physical action is not a firm boundary.
Level 5 - dejar de + InfinitiveStop Doing
This is the opposite of 'romper a'. While 'romper a' marks the sudden beginning of an action, 'dejar de' marks the cessation or stopping of an action, providing a useful contrast.
Level 5 - soler + InfinitiveHabitual Action
Soler presents a habit. Romper a focuses on the onset within an event and can also appear in repeated situations; it is not inherently restricted to a one-time occurrence.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice romper a + Infinitive in Bubblegum
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