English grammar
Get choked up, burst into tears, can't stop crying
Say you nearly cried, or suddenly burst into tears.
From the scene I burst into tears
In short
Use fixed idioms for emotion: get choked up, burst into tears, can't stop crying. Burst stays burst in the past.
Your turn
Which one goes with suddenly start crying?
Options: I got a bit choked up · you burst into tears? · I burst into tears
Show answer
suddenly start crying → I burst into tears
How it works
English has fixed idioms for emotion.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And now, if you'll excuse me... I'm going to (blank) into tears again!
Options: bursted · blow · burst
Show answer
And now, if you'll excuse me... I'm going to burst into tears again!
Y ahora, si me disculpan... ¡me pongo a llorar otra vez!
Good to know
Get choked up (feel so emotional you can hardly speak), burst into tears (suddenly start crying) and can't stop + -ing.
Good to know
Burst doesn't change in the past: I burst into tears yesterday.
almost crying, hard to speak I got a bit choked up
Ramón
Well... I got a bit choked up during the speech.
Bueno... me puse un poco sentimental durante el discurso.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Well... (blank) during the speech.
Options: You burst into tears · I got a bit choked up · I burst into tears
Show answer
Ramón
Well... I got a bit choked up during the speech.
Bueno... me puse un poco sentimental durante el discurso.
suddenly start crying I burst into tears
Ramón
I burst into tears, OK? There.
Me puse a llorar, ¿vale? Ya está.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), OK? There.
Options: I burst into tears · I got a bit choked up · You burst into tears
Show answer
Ramón
I burst into tears, OK? There.
Me puse a llorar, ¿vale? Ya está.
past of burst: still burst you burst into tears?
Elena
I can't believe it! You burst into tears?
¡No me lo puedo creer! ¿Usted se puso a llorar?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I can't believe it! (blank)?
Options: You burst into tears · I got a bit choked up · I burst into tears
Show answer
Elena
I can't believe it! You burst into tears?
¡No me lo puedo creer! ¿Usted se puso a llorar?
crying and crying I couldn't stop crying
Ramón
Tomás is like a son to me. When I saw him with the rings, I couldn't stop crying.
Tomás es como un hijo. Cuando lo vi con los anillos, no podía parar de llorar.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tomás is like a son to me. When I saw him with the rings, (blank).
Options: I burst into tears · I couldn't stop crying · I got a bit choked up
Show answer
Ramón
Tomás is like a son to me. When I saw him with the rings, I couldn't stop crying.
Tomás es como un hijo. Cuando lo vi con los anillos, no podía parar de llorar.
suddenly start laughing burst out laughing
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| almost crying, hard to speak | I got a bit choked up |
|---|---|
| suddenly start crying | I burst into tears |
| past of burst: still burst | you burst into tears? |
| crying and crying | I couldn't stop crying |
| suddenly start laughing | burst out laughing |
More lines from the story
- RamónAnd now, if you'll excuse me... I'm going to burst into tears again!Y ahora, si me disculpan... ¡me pongo a llorar otra vez!
- RamónMe? No, no... it’s the pollen.¿Yo? No, no... es el polen.