started to cry vs started crying

Both 'started to cry' and 'started crying' are correct and commonly used in English. They can be used interchangeably in most contexts, with a slight difference in emphasis. 'Started to cry' may imply a deliberate action or intention to cry, while 'started crying' may suggest a more spontaneous or involuntary reaction.

Last updated: April 06, 2024 • 2038 views

started to cry

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate the beginning of the action of crying. It implies a deliberate action or intention to cry.

Examples:

She started to cry when she heard the news.
He started to cry after watching the emotional movie.
The child started to cry when he fell down.
I started to cry when I realized I had lost my wallet.
The old man started to cry as he reminisced about his youth.

Show examples from the web [+]

Then... she broke down and started to cry.
The baby heard you and started to cry.
But when we were alone... she started to cry.
suddenly, he started to cry.
October for the biggest rain stood on the start of the Ljubljana marathon she remembered everything that was happening and started to cry.
Then I put my hand inside her body And she started to cry
According to her mother, when O'Day was four, she was at a performance of The Nutcracker and started to cry.
I think it was around my third bite of cold spaghetti, she just started to cry. I...
He started to cry and I was teary, and it was just marvelous.
Suddenly she started to cry.
His girlfriend started to cry.
And she started to cry
One gentleman started to cry.
He started to cry.
She was looking out the window and she started to cry.
Suppose Jennie started to cry one day.
And I started to cry on the telephone.
I still don't know why, but I started to cry.
And then I started to cry.
At one point you started to cry.

Alternatives:

began to cry
started weeping
started shedding tears
started tearing up
started sobbing

started crying

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is also used to indicate the beginning of the action of crying. It may suggest a more spontaneous or involuntary reaction compared to 'started to cry.'

Examples:

She started crying when she saw the heartbreaking scene.
He started crying during the sad farewell.
The baby started crying after waking up from the nap.
I started crying out of joy when I received the good news.
The woman started crying as she listened to the touching song.

Show examples from the web [+]

Then he started crying and hung up the phone.
The first time, we kissed and then you started crying.
The women have started crying already.
She started crying all the time.
The principal said she started crying.
She started crying and hung up.
You know, she started crying...
She started crying and wanted to stop at a gas station.
She started crying... making these little noises.
Like, I almost started crying because I was so frustrated.
I started crying, but they didn't care.
You started crying like a little five-year-old girl.
Then he stabs Laurie, so the kid probably started crying.
Erlich, he started crying in Taco Bell.
I just - I started crying after he closed the door.
The tree was totally miserable, so it started crying.
He started crying as soon as we left the house.
The statue only started crying on the day Father Alameida died.
I asked if she was happy and she started crying.
And I... I started crying.

Alternatives:

began crying
started weeping
started shedding tears
started tearing up
started sobbing

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