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Learn to express unexpected actions in Spanish using ir y/agarrar y
In colloquial Spanish, to introduce something that the speaker finds unexpected or something that occurs very suddenly, we can use these structures:
ir + y / agarrar + y
This usually happens in a context with El Presente histórico/narrativo, i.e using El Presente to tell anecdotes that refer to the past, but it can be used in other tenses too.
In this usage, the verbs ir and agarrar are interchangeable. They must be conjugated.
For example:
Y el idiota de Pedro va y le dice a Joaquín que yo estoy enamorada de él.And Pedro, the idiot, goes and tells Joaquín that I am in love with him.
Y el mecánico agarra y me dice que son 200 dólares, no 150.And the mechanic goes and tells me that it's 200 dollars, not 150.
Mi jefa agarró y me dijo que tengo que ser más agradable con los clientes.My boss went and told me that I had to be more friendly with the clients.
Notice how the verb that follows is conjugated in the same tense as ir/agarrar.
The "y" isn't always placed immediately after ir/agarrar; sometimes other elements of the sentence can be placed between them, for example:
Remember that when used this way, these verbs, ir and agarrar, don't have their literal meaning; i.e., nobody literally "goes" anywhere or "takes/grabs" anything.
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Examples and resources
Mi jefa agarró y me dijo que tengo que ser más agradable con los clientes.My boss went and told me that I had to be more friendly with the clients.
Después de haber preparado todo para la boda, agarra Luis y rompe con ella.After having prepared everything for the wedding, Luis goes and breaks up with her.
Verás, el tipo se va a enfadar y va a agarrar y le va a dar un puñetazo.You'll see, the guy is going to get cross and he's going to go and give him a punch.
...y el ladrón, va con mucho disimulo y mete la mano en su bolso....and the thief, goes very carefully and puts his hand in her purse.
Y el mecánico agarra y me dice que son 200 dólares, no 150.And the mechanic goes and tells me that it's 200 dollars, not 150.
Y el idiota de Pedro va y le dice a Joaquín que yo estoy enamorada de él.And Pedro, the idiot, goes and tells Joaquín that I am in love with him.
