English grammar
Start + -ing; burst out laughing / burst into tears
Tell someone to start doing something right now, using start + -ing.
From the scene Start crying
In short
Use start + -ing to begin an action. For a sudden start, use burst out + -ing or burst into + noun.
Your turn
Which one goes with to two people: same form?
Options: both of you, start shouting! · Tomás, start crying · burst out laughing
Show answer
to two people: same form → both of you, start shouting!
How it works
To tell someone to begin an action, use start + -ing: start crying!, start shouting!
Good to know
For a sudden start you can't control, English uses burst: burst out + -ing (burst out laughing) or burst into + noun (burst into tears).
begin: start + -ing Tomás, start crying
Elena
First: Tomás, start crying.
Primero: Tomás, ponte a llorar.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
First: (blank).
Options: Burst out laughing · Tomás, start crying · Both of you
Show answer
Elena
First: Tomás, start crying.
Primero: Tomás, ponte a llorar.
to two people: same form both of you, start shouting!
Elena
Last test: both of you, start shouting!
Última prueba: los dos, ¡poneos a gritar!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Last test: (blank)!
Options: both of you, start shouting · Tomás, start crying · burst out laughing
Show answer
Elena
Last test: both of you, start shouting!
Última prueba: los dos, ¡poneos a gritar!
sudden: burst out + -ing burst out laughing
Elena
Not bad. Now, Nuria, burst out laughing.
No está mal. Ahora, Nuria, échate a reír.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Not bad. Now, Nuria, (blank).
Options: both of you · burst out laughing · Tomás, start crying
Show answer
Elena
Not bad. Now, Nuria, burst out laughing.
No está mal. Ahora, Nuria, échate a reír.
sudden: burst into + noun I'm bursting into tears
Elena
Perfect. Now I'm bursting into tears... of laughter!
Perfecto. Ahora me echo a llorar... ¡de la risa!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Perfect. Now (blank)... of laughter!
Options: Both of you, start shouting · I'm bursting into tears · Tomás, start crying
Show answer
Elena
Perfect. Now I'm bursting into tears... of laughter!
Perfecto. Ahora me echo a llorar... ¡de la risa!
Common mistake
Not starts or started here. An order to both of them.
Last test: both of you, start shouting!
Última prueba: los dos, ¡poneos a gritar!
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
| begin: start + -ing | Tomás, start crying |
|---|---|
| to two people: same form | both of you, start shouting! |
| sudden: burst out + -ing | burst out laughing |
| sudden: burst into + noun | I'm bursting into tears |
More lines from the story
- ElenaThe director has given me the list of tests.El director me ha dado la lista de pruebas.
- NuriaBurst out laughing, just like that? Hahaha, hahaha!¿Echarse a reír, así, de repente? ¡Jajaja, jajaja!