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"Empezar a" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "to start", and "ponerse a" is a pronominal verb phrase which is also often translated as "to start". Learn more about the difference between "empezar a" and "ponerse a" below.
empezar a
A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
1. (general)
b. to start to
El mes próximo, empezaremos a construir nuestra casa.Next month, we'll start to build our new home.
ponerse a(
poh
-
nehr
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seh
ah
)A pronominal verb phrase combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Se dio cuenta del problema.)
1. (general)
a. to start
Justo cuando llegábamos a la playa, se puso a llover.It started raining just as we were arriving at the beach.
b. to begin
A Eva la está riñendo su madre y va y se pone a cantar.Eva was being told off by her mother, and then she goes and begins to sing.
c. to get down to
No estarás pensando en ponerte ahora mismo a limpiar la casa, ¿verdad?You're not thinking of getting down to cleaning the house right now, are you?
