Italian grammar
Ripasso: mettersi a — e scoppiare a piangere/ridere
Tell someone to start doing something, and use scoppiare a for bursting into laughter or tears.
From the scene Mettiti a piangere (Start crying)
In short
Mettersi a + infinitive = start doing. Scoppiare a piangere / ridere = burst out crying / laughing.
- start crying (tu) mettiti a piangere
- burst out laughing (tu) scoppia a ridere
- start shouting (voi) mettetevi a gridare
- I burst into tears scoppio a piangere
Your turn
Which one goes with burst out laughing (tu)?
Options: mettiti a piangere · mettetevi a gridare · scoppia a ridere
Show answer
burst out laughing (tu) → scoppia a ridere
How it works
You already know mettersi a + infinitive (to start doing something): mettiti a piangere.
Good to know
Scoppiare a + infinitive means "to burst out" and is used mostly with piangere and ridere: scoppia a ridere.
Good to know
Commands: mettiti/mettetevi, scoppia/scoppiate.
start crying (tu) mettiti a piangere
Elena
Prima cosa: Tomás, mettiti a piangere.
First: Tomás, start crying.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Prima cosa: Tomás, (blank).
Options: mettetevi a gridare · mettiti a piangere · scoppia a ridere
Show answer
Elena
Prima cosa: Tomás, mettiti a piangere.
First: Tomás, start crying.
burst out laughing (tu) scoppia a ridere
Elena
Non male. Ora, Nuria, scoppia a ridere.
Not bad. Now, Nuria, burst out laughing.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non male. Ora, Nuria, (blank).
Options: mettiti a piangere · mettetevi a gridare · scoppia a ridere
Show answer
Elena
Non male. Ora, Nuria, scoppia a ridere.
Not bad. Now, Nuria, burst out laughing.
start shouting (voi) mettetevi a gridare
Elena
Ultima prova: tutti e due, mettetevi a gridare!
Last test: both of you, start shouting!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ultima prova: tutti e due, (blank)!
Options: scoppia a ridere · mettetevi a gridare · mettiti a piangere
Show answer
Elena
Ultima prova: tutti e due, mettetevi a gridare!
Last test: both of you, start shouting!
I burst into tears scoppio a piangere
Elena
Perfetto. Ora scoppio a piangere... dal ridere!
Perfect. Now I'm bursting into tears... of laughter!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Perfetto. Ora (blank)... dal ridere!
Options: scoppio a piangere · mettiti a piangere · scoppia a ridere
Show answer
Elena
Perfetto. Ora scoppio a piangere... dal ridere!
Perfect. Now I'm bursting into tears... of laughter!
Common mistake
Not metti or metto here. Tu, un comando.
Prima cosa: Tomás, mettiti a piangere.
First: Tomás, start crying.
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
| start crying (tu) | mettiti a piangere |
|---|---|
| burst out laughing (tu) | scoppia a ridere |
| start shouting (voi) | mettetevi a gridare |
| I burst into tears | scoppio a piangere |