Breakdown of Il branco si è messo a inseguire la macchina.
la macchina
the car
a
(linking a verb to a following infinitive)
mettersi a
to start (doing something)
il branco
the pack / the herd
inseguire
to chase (to pursue, track down)
Questions & Answers about Il branco si è messo a inseguire la macchina.
Why does this sentence use essere (si è messo) instead of avere for the past tense of mettere?
Because the verb used in this construction is the reflexive mettersi (to start / to set about doing something). All reflexive verbs take essere in compound tenses like the passato prossimo, and the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject (il branco is masculine singular, hence messo).
What is the difference between using mettersi a here versus ha cominciato a or ha iniziato a?
While all of them translate to "started to", the expression mettersi a emphasizes suddenness, a spontaneous change in behavior, or setting oneself to a task. In this sentence, it paints a picture of the herd abruptly and actively deciding to chase the car, rather than just neutrally beginning an action.
Since il branco implies many animals, why isn't the verb plural (si sono messi)?
Can branco be used for groups other than a "herd"?
Yes! Branco is a highly versatile collective noun. Depending on the animal, it translates to a "pack" (like wolves or dogs), a "flock", or even a "school" of fish. It can also be used pejoratively for an unruly group of people, similar to a "mob" or a "gang".
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