Using ir + y / agarrar + y to introduce something unexpected and sudden

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 / agarra+ 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.

Después de tirarle la bronca agarré y me fui.After giving him what for I up and left.

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.

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.

Ella fue y se puso a bailar encima de la mesa.She went and started to dance on the table.

Y Marisa, muy emocionada, va y empieza a dar saltos.And Marisa, very excited, goes and starts jumping around.

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:

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.

...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.

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

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.
Después de tirarle la bronca agarré y me fui.After giving him what for I up and left.
...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.
Y Marisa, muy emocionada, va y empieza a dar saltos.And Marisa, very excited, goes and starts jumping around.
Ella fue y se puso a bailar encima de la mesa.She went and started to dance on the table.
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.
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